Winger Ugo Monye will retire from rugby at the end of the season having been a one club man, but director of rugby Conor O’Shea has revealed that might not have been the case had the French had their way.

The 31-year-old former British & Irish Lion will hang up his boots at the end of the season to bring down the curtain on a 13-year career at Harlequins.

Monye has helped the club lift the European Challenge Cup twice, the LV= Cup and the Premiership title in a glittering career totalling 237 appearances – to date – in the famous quarters.

The former England international, who is expected to remain at the club in an off-field capacity, said playing for one club throughout his career is the achievement he is most proud of.

And O’Shea reckoned turning down a lucrative move to the Top 14 and his contribution to the club's top flight triumph in 2012 marked him out as a Quins great.

“In my time here, two things stick out to show his unwavering commitment and professionalism to the only club he has ever played for,” he said.

“The first was when he was offered twice the money we offered to join a top French club, but he turned it down to be with the club he always dreamed of playing for.

“My second memory will be how he got back on the field for our Aviva Premiership title win in 2012.

“He tore his hamstring, but within four weeks and against all medical expectation he got himself back on the pitch and played the full eighty minutes.

“Those who knew what he had gone through to get on the pitch, will know he only had one leg fully right, but nothing was keeping him out, and Ugo's presence alone on a pitch is enough in how he motivates.”

Monye had questioned his ability to compete at the highest level before making the decision to quit, with the move opening the door for O’Shea to swoop for Scotland international Tim Visser.

Hi s departure means only eight of the players that started the 2012 Premiership final are certain of being at the club next season, with question marks remaining over the respective futures of Tom Williams and Jordan Turner-Hall.

London-born Monye had talks with coaching staff at Toulon over the possibility of extending his career in France, but he could not bring himself to make the move.

“It is a decision that I have been thinking about for a long time and one that I haven’t taken lightly,” he added.

“I have had an unbelievable 13 years here at Quins and have no regrets.

“The one thing I am most proud of is that I have been a one-club man, in a game that is ever changing and I am excited to be staying on at the club after my retirement in a different capacity.

“To go onto play for the club I supported as a boy, to achieve my childhood dream of following in the footsteps of some of the sport’s greatest players like Jason Leonard, Will Greenwood and Zinzan Brooke and to wear the Harlequins jersey has been amazing.”