Canterbury back-rower Frank Pritchard will leave the NRL at the end of the season after signing with English Super League club Hull FC.

The former Bulldogs captain and Kiwi international will finish up his career in the north of England after inking a three-year deal.

“The English Super League is continuing to grow as a competition and – to be able to go over there and continue as a professional athlete – is exciting,” Pritchard said.

“I’ve been blessed with my time in the NRL and I thank everyone at both the Panthers and Bulldogs from over the years.

“It’s not over yet though and I’ll be committing more than ever to leave at the end of the season with the ultimate prize and I believe we have a group here at the Bulldogs who are more than capable of doing so.”

Pritchard has signed a two-year deal with an option for a third.

The 31-year-old debuted for Penrith in 2003 before leaving the foot of the mountains after the 2010 season to link with Canterbury.

He was capped 27 times for the Kiwis and played for Samoa in the 2014 World Cup.

“Frank is a quality signing. He is going to be a real hit in this competition and, as a former club captain at the Bulldogs, a grand final winner and a top New Zealand international for some years, his CV speaks for itself,” Hull coach Lee Radford said.

“The fact we had to fight so hard against three or four other clubs in Super League to get his signature and Canterbury’s reluctance to see him go speaks volumes and is a real sign of his quality and the stature of the man.”