Hull Kingston Rovers prop Michael Weyman has been forced to retire from the sport due to a knee injury.

The 30-year-old arrived at the Robins at the start of last season and enjoyed a successful individual campaign with the club, scoring seven tries in 24 games.

However, the Australian has missed the club's last five games with a knee injury and, having undergone surgery last month, he has now decided to call time on his career.

"It has meant a lot to me to play for Rovers and I would like to thank the supporters and everybody at the club for making my family and I feel so welcome over the last 18 months," he told the club's official website.

"We've really enjoyed our time here and we've met some great friends who we'll continue to stay in touch with after we move back to Australia. It's a sad way to end my career but unfortunately these things happen and I've been lucky enough to achieve what I have in the game.

"It's now time to look at the bigger picture and think about my family. My knee isn't responding to treatment and I wanted to do the right thing by the club as well. I don't want to be sitting in the stands for most of the year."

Head coach Chris Chester was also keen to pay tribute to last season's runner-up in the Player of the Year award.

"We are disappointed to lose a player of Mick's calibre but he has been a great servant to the club during his time here and he leaves with our best wishes for the future. He's been a great leader for this club and this is not the way he would have wanted to end his career, but he's played at the highest level and can be rightly proud of what he's achieved in the game," Chester added.

"The time has come for him to put his family and life after rugby first and he's made the right decision. He's a true professional and he wouldn't have been happy being on the sidelines and not being able to make a contribution on the field. That's the sort of bloke he is and it's been a pleasure working with him.

"We've already begun the search for a replacement for Mick and we're looking both in this country and overseas. We now have a full quota spot to play with but we won't be rushing into any decisions. We have a really close-knit squad this year and whoever we bring in will have to fit in both on and off the field."

Weyman won the NRL Grand Final and the World Club Challenge during his time with Australia, as well as winning an international cap for the Kangaroos.