Ben Cohen Quits Rugby

British rugby star Ben Cohen has announced his retirement from the sport in order to devote his time to fighting homophobia and bullying through his foundation.

The Independent reports on the announcement from Cohen, 32, who was player of the year for the Sale Sharks this year.

“Cohen believes he could play for another two years but has turned down offers from clubs in England and France. Instead he will focus on heading up the Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation, which tackles bullying and homophobia,” reports The Independent.

“I have reached the top in my sport,” said Cohen in a statement on his website. “It has been an incredible journey and has put me in the privileged position I am in today to be able to work on these exciting new projects through the StandUp Brand. As athletes, it is not enough just to have strong bodies. We must have strong characters and use our voices to support those who need and deserve it.”

This week, Cohen will launch his 10-day Ben Cohen Acceptance Tour of U.S. cities to include talks, training sessions, and fund-raising events.