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'FOR MY KIDS'
England rugby star Anthony Watson forced to retire aged 30 or risk living in constant pain
Watson revealed that his pain was negatively damaging from his family life
ENGLAND and Leicester Tigers winger Anthony Watson has retired from professional rugby union on medical grounds.
The 30-year-old, who won 56 international caps, revealed that he must prioritise his family and avoid the risk of "living in constant pain."
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Watson made the last appearance of his career in December.
He played just seven times for Tigers over the past two seasons because of a multitude of injuries.
A calf injury forced Watson to miss last year's World Cup, while a succession of Achilles issues and a back problem, that required surgery, limited him to just two games for Leicester last term.
Watson announced his retirement on Leicester Tigers YouTube channel this morning.
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The former Rugby World Cup star said: "I've got a life after rugby, I've got to think about being able to play with my kids outside.
"And I don't feel that jeopardising that is fair on them or them constantly seeing me in pain or constantly having to go through all the stuff I have to go through just to be able to play.
"When I am at home icing, lying down on the sofa, hanging upside down, sitting with a laser on my back, it's just non-stop and it takes away from family life.
"And I'm at the point now given the surgeons comments around where I'm at and combining that with wanting to be around and support and be the dad I should be, it's kind of raised its head."
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Watson won his first England cap in 2014, coming off the bench against New Zealand for the Autumn Internationals, and started the rest of that series at just 20 years old.
Known for his rapid speed and try scoring ability, Watson celebrated his 50th cap at Allianz Stadium, where he scored a try and was named player of the match after beating France 23-20 during the 2021 Six Nations.
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He was also part of the 2016 Six Nations Grand Slam winning team, as well as the sides that won the 2017 and 2020 editions.
Watson previously said in October that he concentrating on playing "pain-free" for Leicester again and that he had no immediate focus on an England recall after enduring a "horrendous road" to recovery.
He also played in two Rugby World Cups in 2015 and 2019, making the final and semi-final respectively.
The 56-capped England star also featured in two British & Irish Lions tours in New Zealand in 2017 and South Africa in 2021.
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