Gareth Hock announces retirement with immediate effect
Gareth Hock has retired from rugby league with immediate effect.
The 35-year-old played six games for Leigh since re-signing for the club back in May but retired due to his body “not letting him play how he wants”.
Hock made a total of 313 career appearances, scoring 81 tries. He played for hometown club Wigan, Widnes, Salford, Featherstone, Barrow and Leigh.
The back-rower earned four caps for Great Britain and five for England.
Hock tweeted: “It’s been a hard and emotional couple of weeks, especially today as I told the team, staff and my family that I’m retiring from rugby league.
“I’ve trained and worked hard to get back after my shoulder operation but six games in, my body is just saying no and it’s not letting me do what I want it to do and how I want to play, so I’d rather retire now before I do more damage to my body.
“I need to stop saying to myself that I can keep doing it. I’ve had my ups and downs but there have been more ups and I’ve achieved everything I wanted to in rugby.
“Rugby has been my life from seven years of age, it’s scary but you know when it’s time to retire. Once again, thanks to everyone I’ve met and played with over the years. What a journey.”
@LeighCenturions ? pic.twitter.com/VBtQHrOOwk
— garethhock (@gazhock12) July 16, 2019
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