Exeter Chiefs lock Matt Postlethwaite has been forced to retire on medical grounds.

The 27-year-old joined the club last summer after six seasons at Sale Sharks.

But he made only three first-team appearances in the Premiership Rugby Cup at the start of the season before being sidelined with injury.

His final game in an Exeter shirt came in a friendly against the Royal Navy in March.

Its been a tough period of time for me, getting injured and then trying to come back following my operation," he told the Exeter website.

"This is not how I would have wanted my time in the sport to come to an end, but Ive loved every minute of my time at Exeter Chiefs."