Leicester Tigers forwards Becky Noon and Ofure Ugiagbe are set to retire from rugby at the conclusion of the 2023/24 season.
Both player's started last year's Championship play-off final and the side's first-ever Allianz Premiership Women's Rugby games and their contributions have been invaluable to the short history of the side.
Ugiagbe started the side's first ever competitive match in last year's Championship North 1 and was the first women's player to score a try at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
The prop was also the joint-first woman to reach 20 appearances for the club.
Having started her rugby journey at the University of Leicester, Ugiagbe has also featured for Loughborough Lightning over her career.
Commenting on her decision to retire, Ugiagbe said: "“I’ve really enjoyed my two seasons with Tigers, and I’m so grateful I get to end my playing career here.
"I’m really looking forward to watching the girls go from strength to strength as a unit, and grow as a playing group! The time is right to hang up the boots and I’m super excited to focus more on family life”
Noon, meanwhile, was recently awarded Coaches Player of the Season at last week's Awards Evening and has shown incredible work rate this year, topping the Tigers charts for attacking breakdown arrivals and successful tackles while she also sits sixth in the league overall for tackles made (16.9 per game).
Having started in sixteen matches this season, with four appearances of the bench, the versatile forward has been an ever-present throughout her two years the club, starting matches at both sides of the second row and all three positions in the back row.
Having began in rugby at Market Bosworth at just four years old, Noon has also played for England Under-20s, Loughborough Lightning and Lichfield before joining Tigers.
Asked about her decision to step away, Noon said: "I’ve throughly enjoyed my time with Tigers: it's a dream come true and I couldn’t be prouder to have played a part in this inaugural team and creating something truly special.
"Once a Tiger, always a Tiger. I will continue to support and cheer on the girls but now from the sidelines".
Both players are set to feature for the club in tomorrow's home fixture against Sale Sharks, where supporters can give the pair the warm send off they deserve.
