Former England hooker Lee Mears has retired from rugby with immediate effect due to a heart condition, his Premiership club Bath announced Monday. Cardiac screening flagged up the problem and the 33-year-old Mears, who quit the Test scene last year, felt he had no choice but to call time on his career with west country club Bath as well. "There is a significant potential risk of developing further complications if Lee continues to perform the prolonged strenuous exercises required to be an elite rugby player," said a Bath statement.