Wales and London ace Michael Channing forced to retire due to injury

Wales and London centre Michael Channing has been forced to retire due to a reoccurring neck injury he first sustained three years ago.

The 26-year-old suffered a neck injury three years ago and he has been forced to hang up his boots earlier than he would have liked due to professional medical advice.

Channing started his professional career at London Broncos in 2012, before enjoying spells at Castleford Tigers and Featherstone Rovers. He then moved back to the Broncos and he has played over 40 games in total for the club.

On his retirement, the Wales international said: “I’ve been forced into early retirement through a neck injury I sustained around 3 years ago.

“With the advice of the best in the country and all the medical care under the sun, I’m sure we’re making the right decision.

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Heart ache to happiness, disappointment to celebration, dreams to reality, team mates to best mates – Rugby League has given me it all. It’s with a heavy heart I type this message ?… I’ve been forced into early retirement through a neck injury I sustained around 3 years ago. With the advise of the best in the country and all the medical care under the sun, I’m sure we’re making the right decision. I will forever be grateful to be one of the lucky ones who got to live out their childhood dreams. I’ll be the first person to admit I was never a ‘star’ of the game and my inconsistency as a player would explain why I didn’t manage to re-sign an expired contract. However, the time I did spend at each club were the best years of my life to date. I was paid to play a game I’d adored from the age of 5, lucky boy ??. Over my short career I’ve experienced some unbelievable moments that I will cherish forever and talk about to my kids (when I have them) – a World Cup in Australia, reached the Challenge Cup final in Wembley and played with and against the worlds best. I’d like to thank Castleford, Fev and London Broncos for everything they have given me and to every single member of staff, fans and players within my years I was there. You are the reason my dream has been fulfilled and for that, I thank you. I’d like to thank my parents, who from an early age, have driven me all over the country and always supported me so I could pursue my career. My friends who have always been there for me and finally my amazing girlfriend Holly. Behind every disappointment I have ever encountered, she has been my rock to keep me going. Girlfriends and wives of professional sportsman deserve a medal because we moan … A LOT. Every now and then life throws you a curve ball … or a sledge hammer to the face … or 13, 120kg angry islanders trying to rip your head off ? and although we feel alienated at the time, we always learn a little more about ourselves and somehow get through it. Rugby has taught me to never give up, to follow dreams no matter how unachievable they appear and to always learn from everyone around you. I plan to use all that in my next walk of life ✌???

A post shared by Michael Channing (@michael.channing) on Oct 1, 2018 at 4:56am PDT

“I will forever be grateful to be one of the lucky ones who got to live out their childhood dreams. I’ll be the first person to admit I was never a ‘star’ of the game and my inconsistency as a player would explain why I didn’t manage to re-sign an expired contract. However, the time I did spend at each club were the best years of my life to date.

“I’d like to thank Castleford, Featherstone and London Broncos for everything they have given me and to every single member of staff, fans and players within my years I was there.

“Rugby has taught me to never give up, to follow dreams no matter how unachievable they appear and to always learn from everyone around you. I plan to use all that in my next walk of life.”

Channing earned six caps for Wales.