The ex-Newcastle and Northampton player, 33, is currently with Bedford in the Championship.

Dickson scored tries in Northampton's 2010 LV= Cup final and 2013 Premiership final wins and earned 18 England caps.

"This has really been one of the toughest decisions I've ever had to make and one that I haven't made lightly," said Dickson, who moved to Bedford in the summer of 2017.

Dickson will take up a role as master in charge of rugby at Barnard Castle School in Durham, which he and brother Karl, who is also a former Premiership player and now a referee, attended.