The back-row forward, 37, is the world’s most-capped women’s player with 140 caps, and is also England’s most-capped player, male or female.
“Everything has to come to an end at some point,” she told BBC Sport.
“The RFU kindly put a Red Roses game finally at Newcastle, which is my home city where I grew up. I just couldn’t not give it a go to play in the game.
“I started playing rugby in Newcastle, finishing there feels like I’ve come full circle.”