Northampton Saints have released injured lock Johan Ackermann.
The eight times capped South African and club officials amicably agreed on the release following his failiure to return to match fitness despite continual extensive treatment on a shoulder injury.
Operations director John Steele said: 'We have been fortunate at the club not to have seen too many of these kind of injuries during the past few years.
'However, Johan has been very unfortunate with the continual problem he has had with his shoulder. We have agreed with Johan that it would be best for him to return home to continue his rehabilitation.
'Johan has acted very professionally in the way he which he has handled this situation and his rehabilitation, and everyone at the club wishes him and his family well,' said Steele
Meanwhile, a familiar face at Heineken Cup matches over the past three seasons
has opted to stand down.Saints head physiotherapist Phil Pask has stepped down from his post at the club.
The former Saints flanker, who is also the current England physiotherapist, decided to give up his role at the club to spend more time with his family. Phil first joined the club as a player on 1988 and since then has worked as fitness trainer and, more recently, physiotherapist.
The physiotherapy department will now be run by Cliff Eaton, who has worked alongside Phil for the last six years.
Cliff Eaton began his physiotherapy career at Peterborough RFC before going on
to work in sports injury clinic in Leicester. From there he moved to Leicestershire County Cricket Club before being invited to work at Franklin's Gardens with the youth and Wanderers teams and then being taken on to help Phil look after the first team six years ago.
John Moore will work alongside Cliff at the club. He began work at Northampton Saints 16 months ago after starting out at Northamptonshire County Cricket Club before joining the Oxfordshire NHS Trust and then working in outpatients at Northampton General Hospital.
Northampton Saints operations director John Steele said: 'Phil has given outstanding service as a player and as a physiotherapist. Although he is stepping down from his role as head physiotherapist, we will still see him at the club in a consultancy role. Everyone at the club wishes Phil well for the future.'
