Steve Thompson retires

Podge_irl

Looks like Thompson has gotten another next injury, but this one is going to put him out for good. I must say, I have a lot of time for him. His return from injury last time was impressive and him returning the insurance payout to come back showed real love for the game. Doubt he was involved in any hijinks down south either, just not his style. Hopefully he lands on his feet after this.

England hooker Steve Thompson has been forced to retire with immediate effect after suffering another neck injury.

Thompson has been experiencing numbness and dizziness since hitting a scrum machine in training with Wasps on October 26th and he will have an operation on Tuesday.

The 33-year-old briefly retired in 2007 after undergoing surgery on a different neck injury

but this time Thompson has been told there is no way back.

“I went to the specialist and he advised me it isn’t safe to carry on playing,” said Thompson.

The injury occurred two days before Thompson made his debut for Wasps, who he joined on a three-year contract from Leeds in the summer.

Thompson played for an hour in Wasps’ 14-12 win at Worcester

but that was to prove the final match of a career which brought him 73 England caps, three for the Lions and a 2003 World Cup-winners’ medal.

“I was gutted. I hit a scrum machine and it just went. I played 60 minutes at Worcester and that was it. I tried to convince myself it was fine and it wasn’t,” said Thompson.

“I went to the specialist and he advised me it isn’t safe to carry on playing. I need another operation, which will happen on Tuesday. I have had a lot of numbness and dizziness.

“I was enjoying rugby. I thought I had done alright at the World Cup, compared to how some of the lads went, and I was really looking forward to Wasps. Dai Young is someone I really wanted to play for.”

Thompson sent back an insurance payout of around €550,000 when he returned to action after his last neck injury, having received a second medical opinion that cleared him to play again.

The former Northampton, Brive and Leeds hooker forced his way back into the England set-up for the 2009 summer Tests against Argentina and he was the first-choice pick at this year’s World Cup. But a career of glittering highs ended with the double blow of a quarter-final exit from the World Cup and then a second neck injury.

“I have got to accept it this time. There is no way I can play,” added Thompson. “I can’t do what I need to do to earn a living. I scrum, that is what I do.

“The World Cup was hard. To finish the way it did was really disappointing and then to suffer another blow a few weeks afterwards

it is like a kick in the nuts.

“This operation will be more painful than the last one. I will take a break and see what opportunities come along the way.”

http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/rugby/2011/1203/1224308549066.html

CatFromHue

It's sad to see the guy retire.

It's also a big loss for England as was their first choice hooker.

phog

Sad to see him having to retire again, he is supposed to have repaid an insurance payout to return to the game, I hope he hasn't lost out now because of his love of the game.

Cardinal Richelieu

Major blow for Wasps too, already a weak Wasps squad compared to previous years. All the best to Thompson, hopefully he finds a coaching position in the game.

duckysauce

Will always remember Flannerys comments about him ,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_ixoDI7Lfk

Was amazed that he came back from the neck injury to the game and played so well when he could have took the money and run , Hope he has a good future in rugby he deserves it , even though I never was a fan when he played against us.