England and Lions winger Anthony Watson has officially announced his retirement from professional rugby due to persistent back problems. The 30-year-old athlete, who has proudly represented England in 56 test matches and the British and Irish Lions in five games, has been struggling with a back injury that began affecting him in January 2024. His last appearance on the field was for his Leicester club on December 1, where he played with the assistance of pain medications.

Following consultations, Watson’s surgeon advised him to hang up his boots for good. Reflecting on his situation, Watson expressed a mix of gratitude and melancholy, stating, “It was taken out of my hands and I’m quite grateful it was done that way. It’s hard to say I have dealt with it already because I haven’t. What gives me peace of mind is knowing I did everything I could do, and that’s the way the cookie crumbles.” He also noted how fulfilling his career has been, stating that if he had been told at 19 that he would have such a successful journey and retire at 30, he would have accepted it readily.

Throughout his impressive career, Watson cherished multiple victories, including three Six Nations titles. His standout moment came during the 2016 Grand Slam, where he contributed three tries to his total of 23 career scores. This achievement held even more significance after England’s disappointing exit from the pool stage during the home Rugby World Cup in 2015.

Watson also played a pivotal role in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final, where England faced defeat against South Africa. Furthermore, he was part of the English team that claimed victory in the junior world championship in 2013, as well as winning the Under-20 Six Nations in both 2012 and 2013.

In light of Watson’s retirement, England’s head coach, Steve Borthwick, paid heartfelt tribute to him. “I was fortunate to have coached Anthony both at Leicester Tigers and England. He is a humble, hard-working professional man who is universally liked and admired in the game,” Borthwick remarked. “He is to be congratulated on a fantastically successful career.”