Former England captain and Bath flanker Lewis Moody has retired from rugby union with a shoulder injury.

Moody, who ended his international career after the 2011 World Cup, was hurt against Worcester on 25 November and had surgery 12 days later.

“Totally gutted I have had to take the decision to retire from all forms of rugby,” Moody wrote on his Twitter page.  “I will truly miss it.”

The 33-year-old added: “Unfortunately, it was one injury too far.”

Moody lifted two Heineken Cups and seven Premiership titles during a 14 year-spell with Leicester, before joining Bath in March 2010.

He was capped 71 times by England, helping them win the 2003 World Cup, and played in two Tests on the 2005 British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand.

But Moody’s career was plagued by injuries, with knee ligament, foot, eye socket and shoulder problems among those to sideline him for varying lengths of time.

“I owe a huge debt of gratitude to all the medics and physios who have put me back together time and time again to enable me to continue to play this wonderful sport of ours,” he said in a statement  .

Lewis Moody has had an extraordinary career, throwing his body into the firing line with a staggering commitment over the last 16 years. He’s won virtually everything there is to win, and he’s done it all with humility and a smile. He was as fearless a flanker as you will ever see, and his bravery earned him the nickname “Mad Dog”. At his best, Moody was world class, and it was his gathering of the final line-out on that famous night in Sydney in 2003, that allowed England to set up Jonny Wilkinson’s drop goal. Lewis Moody was a true rugby warrior in love with his sport.

“Rugby has been my life for such a long time now, it is scary to imagine what it will be like without it, but I look forward to relishing the new opportunities and adventures that will come my way.”