Former Barrow Raiders captain Ollie Wilkes has announced his retirement from rugby league after an illustrious 21-year career.

Wilkes skippered the Raiders to promotion to the Betfred Championship in 2017, a year in which Paul Crarey's side also claimed the League One Cup by beating the North Wales Crusaders at Blackpool's Bloomfield Road.

The 39-year-old from Ulverston left for Cumbrian rivals Workington Town in 2018, but after a career that has seen him play in two World Cups, he has decided to call it a day after undergoing surgery to clear out his knee earlier in the summer.

In a statement on his Facebook page, Wilkes said: “After more than 500 games and exactly 100 career tries I felt I’d nothing more to prove.

“I had surgery on my knees six weeks ago and they don’t feel any better.

“I’d be three weeks or so getting back to fitness and I don’t want to take someone else’s shirt for the play-offs so it’s time to go. My mind says yes, my body says no."

Wilkes began his career at Sheffield Eagles and featured for Huddersfield, Keighley, Leigh Centurions and Whitehaven before joining Super League giants Wigan in 2006.

From there, he had two spells at Wakefield either side of two seasons at Harlequins and he returned to Leigh before signing for Barrow in 2016. He also won 15 caps for Scotland, playing in the World Cups in 2008 and 2013.