Dixon announces retirement

James Gordon

Castleford winger Kirk Dixon has announced his retirement from rugby league.

Dixon, 30, had surgery in the off-season to replace a disk in his neck which would have ruled him out of much of the upcoming campaign, so he has made the decision to hang up his boots.

He said: “I’ve had surgery to remove a disk and I’ve had an artificial disk put in there, and it was going to be at least a six months no contact rehab period. That would have taken up most of this season and prior to the surgery, I already had an idea that I might retire at the end of the 2015 season. 

“But it has come to an end now and you simply cannot put a price on your health. It’s certainly not the way I wanted to go out.

Dixon has scored more than 1000 points for the Tigers since joining from Hull in 2007, and scored 12 tries in 19 games last season as Cas finished fourth in Super League and reached the Challenge Cup final.

In his first year with the club, he helped them to promotion from National League One.

 

Tigers CEO Steve Gill said: “When a player has to quit the sport he loves through injury it is always going to be a sad day. Kirk Dixon has given us so many fantastic memories in his nine year career at the Tigers and has always been a fans’ favourite. We will all miss having him around the place, and I am sure he will miss being part of our great club. On behalf of the people of Castleford I would like to thank Kirk for his magnificent contribution to Castleford Tigers over the years.”