Bowe, who turns 34 next month, has won 69 Ireland caps over a 13-year period, and only Brian O'Driscoll has scored more than his 30 Ireland tries.

The flyer toured South Africa with the British and Irish Lions in 2009 and was also selected to take on Australia four years later. 

He returned to Ulster after a spell with Ospreys in 2012 and will end his career with his native province.

Bowe came up with a poem to reveal his playing days are coming to an end, tweeting: "I've spent most of my career in Belfast, at first George said I wasn't very fast, I eventually found my gears, had some incredible years, but it's time to tell you - this is my last!"

Bowe, a member of Ireland's 2009 Grand-Slam winning team, is sidelined with a sternum injury.