Yahoo Sport 
Popular Wales international announces retirement from rugby
Wales international Jake Ball has announced his retirement from rugby.
The 6ft 6in lock will hang up his boots at the end of the 2024/2025 season to prioritise his family and put more time into his new supplement and wellness company Veritroo.
In a statement on social media, Ball wrote: “Professional Rugby has been my dream, my passion and my career for the last fifteen years.
READ MORE:Today's rugby news as Warren Gatland highly unlikely to repeat decision that left Wales vulnerable
READ MORE:The unheard Wales v Fiji moments as Welsh voices silenced amid all the problems
“I have made the tough decision to retire at the end of the 2024/2025 season in order to spend more time with my family and to develop and grow my new supplement and wellness company Veritroo
“I want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible journey rugby has taken me on, from my early days with the Western Force, then to the Scarlets and representing Wales on the international stage and finally playing here in Japan with the NEC Green Rockets. Every chapter has enabled me to live out that childhood dream.
“To my teammates, coaches, staff and fans I have made some great friendships and memories that I will cherish. Thank you for the support and good times over the years.
“I am looking forward to my final season with NEC Green Rockets before moving on to the next chapter of my life.”
SIGN UP: Get the new exclusive Inside Welsh rugby newsletter here for full insight into what's really going on behind the scenes.
Ball left west Wales region Scarlets to return to his family in Australia at the end of the 2020/2021 season, and eventually signed for Japanese club Green Rockets.
The second row has earned 50 caps for Wales and played nine seasons at Parc Y Scarlets, becoming a firm fan favourite on Welsh soil.
He has been playing under former Wales head coach Wayne Pivac at Green Rockets, who has been at the helm since the beginning of last season.
The 33-year-old is very open about his wholefood-based diet, and has therefore decided to start up ‘Veritroo’, which will involve ‘high quality supplements’ with ‘no unnecessary ingredients’.
The Wales v Fiji inquest podcast
