England rugby star retires at 30 in emotional announcement due to ‘horrendous’ injuries

Today at 01:55 PM

England international Anthony Watson has announced his retirement from rugby due to a series of ‘horrendous’ injury issues.

A back issue, sustained in January last year, proved to be the final straw for Watson as doctors recommended the 30-year-old to call time on his career.

“It (back injury) needed surgery and it basically just carried on getting flare ups and wasn’t healing the way we wanted it to,” Watson said.

“It felt alright until maybe midweek of a game with Sale.

“Then it started to take a real deep dive to the point where I couldn’t sit down. From that point onwards, it wasn’t looking too rosy.”

Watson opened up on the harrowing account leading up to the match against Sale on December 1 last year, revealing he could barely sleep and had consumed a large amount of painkillers just to play.

After he got through the match, Watson immediately returned to the surgeon where they assessed what the next steps would be.

Another injection failed to relieve Watson of the pain and prompted the heartbreaking call.

“He said: ‘I don’t think this is safe for you to carry on playing,'” Watson said.

“It was taken out of my hands and I’m quite grateful it was done that way.”

Watson retired having after he was cruelly robbed of the chance to feature for England at the 2023 Rugby World Cup due to a calf injury.

The persistent physical issues in recent years also limited Watson to just seven appearances for the Leicester Tigers in the Gallagher Premiership over the last two years.

The winger had joined Leicester following a glittering nine years with Bath.

Watson hangs up the boots having scored 23 tries in 56 caps for England.

Throughout his international career, Watson helped England win an impressive three Six Nations titles along with a run to the final of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Watson also toured twice with the British and Irish Lions in 2017 and 2021 to New Zealand and South Africa respectively.

Despite the cruel nature in which his career came to an end, Watson looks back on his career with an ‘overarching feeling’ of ‘pride’.

“I’m proud and blessed to have represented my family, my country and two of the biggest clubs in the country,” Watson said.

“When I started out, I wanted to make my dad proud more than anyone.

“I wanted to play for England and the Lions with my parents in the crowd and, eventually, wanted to share a moment with my children on the field.

“I can say I’ve done all those things.”

England coach Steve Borthwick, who led Watson at Leicester and at international level, congratulated the 30-year-old on a ‘fantastically successful career’.

“He is a humble, hard-working professional man who is universally liked and admired in the game,” Borthwick said.

“Anthony not only brought his incredible talent to the England shirt every time he played, but he was also a player who was immensely proud to represent his country.

“We wish him all the best in the next chapter and thank him for everything he did for the England team.”