England, British and Irish Lions and Leicester Tigers fullback Anthony Watson has been forced to retire from rugby due to health reasons.
The 30-year-old, who last appeared in the Gallagher Premiership in December, has been restricted to just seven appearances for Leicester Tigers over the past two seasons due to a string of injuries.
A calf injury saw Watson miss out on representing England at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, before Achilles problems and back surgery hampered the remainder of Leicester's season, ultimately forcing him to call time on his distinguished career.
Watson retires from rugby having won 56 caps for England, with whom he won three Six Nations titles and reached the final of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
The former London Irish and Bath Rugby full-back also represented the British and Irish Lions on their tours of New Zealand and South Africa in 2017 and 2021.
Watson started five British and Irish Lions Tests on their 2017 and 2021 tours of New Zealand and South Africa.
“My overarching feeling is pride,” Watson said. “I am proud and blessed to have done what I have done throughout my career; that I represented my family, my country and the two biggest clubs in the country.
“When I started, I wanted to make my dad proud more than anyone, I wanted to play for England and the Lions with my parents in the crowd and, finally, I wanted to share a moment with my kids on the pitch. I can say I've done it all those things.”
England coach Steve Borthwick paid tribute to Watson, adding: “Anthony Watson is to be congratulated on a fantastically successful career.
Watson won 56 caps and three Six Nations titles with England
“I was lucky enough to coach Anthony both at Leicester Tigers and in England. He is a humble, hard-working professional who is loved and admired in the game.
“Anthony not only brought his incredible talent to the England shirt every time he played, he was also a player who took immense pride in representing his country.
“We all wish him the best in his next chapter and thank him for all he has done for the England national team.”
Resilient Watson generational talent
Watson scores a try against Wales during the 2020 Six Nations
Sky Sports' Tony Tighe:
Anthony Watson has won three Six Nations titles, played five Tests on two British and Lions tours, started in a World Cup final, but you still feel it could and should have been more.
It's a testament to Watson's character and determination that he fought through countless injury setbacks to return to the top of the sport. Last year he spoke of his desire to play “pain free”, but when it began to affect his family life, he realized time was up.
His career was cut short aged just 30, but Watson will be remembered as an England and Lions great.
He burst onto the scene as a 17-year-old with London Irish, becoming the club's youngest player to appear in a Premiership game. Comfortable as a winger or full-back, he was part of the England Under-20 side that won the 2013 Junior World Cup and made his senior debut within 18 months.
Possessing quick footwork and quick pace, Watson was a mainstay during the early days of the Eddie Jones era, scoring three tries as England won the 2016 Six Nations Grand Slam. coach Warren Gatland.
He scored the Lions' first try of the New Zealand tour and quickly worked his way into the Test side, given the nod by Gatland ahead of George North and Jack Nowell, then retained the number 14 shirt during that epic drawn series.
He wore the same shirt for England during their brilliant run to the 2019 World Cup finals, scoring a try in their emphatic quarter-final win over Australia.
Titles eluded him at club level, losing the Premiership and European finals during his 10 seasons at Bath, while injuries were a more regular disruption after he joined Leicester in 2022, forcing Watson to hang up his boots a month before his 31st birthday.
His career is ending sooner than expected, but Watson has packed a lot into his 15 years as a pro.