Hull FC captain Gareth Ellis has confirmed that he will bring the curtain down on a glittering playing career at the end of the current Betfred Super League season
Ellis, 36, will call time on his career at the end of the year after a decorated 18-year playing career which began back in 1999.
The former Great Britain and England international will take up the role as Hull FC’s football manager from 2018, replacing the departing Motu Tony.
After making over 100 appearances for Wakefield, Ellis, who’s set to make his 450th career appearance on Friday night against Huddersfield Giants, moved on to Leeds Rhinos where he was part of the side who clinched back-to-back Super League Grand Final wins and a World Club Challenge triumph.
One of the most revered players in the modern era, Ellis headed down under in 2009 to play for Wests Tigers in the NRL, making a huge impact during his three-year stay, winning the club’s Player of the Year honour three years in succession and nominated for the Golden Boot award.
He returned to Super League in 2013 with the Black and Whites, where he became the first Hull FC captain to lift the Challenge Cup at Wembley last season.
Ellis, who is also closing in on a century of games for the Airlie Birds, was named in the Super League Dream Team for a fifth time in 2016, nominated for the Steve Prescott Man of Steel award alongside team-mate and winner Danny Houghton who he was jointly crowned the winner of the Rugby League Writers and Broadcasters’ Association award.