Canterbury vice-captain Frank Pritchard will leave the club at the end of the year to take up a three-year deal with Hull FC.

Pritchard is contracted to the Bulldogs until the end of next season but has been given a release to take up what will be the final contract of his career.

Dog gone: A hugely experienced forward, Pritchard will leave the club at the end of this season to take up a three-year deal with Hull in the English Super League. Credit:Getty Images

The New Zealand and Samoan international was on $650,000 next season and the Dogs will pay about $300,000 of his freight to free up salary cap space. It's likely he will be joined by another former Canterbury teammate at Hull next season, with former New Zealand international Krisnan Inu also in the club's sights.

Pritchard may not be the only Bulldog heading to the English Super League, with off-contract halfback Trent Hodkinson also considering his options overseas.