27-year-old Ben John announces immediate retirement

Ben John has confirmed his retirement from rugby following a year out of the game after suffering a series of head injuries.

The 27-year old last played on Boxing day 2017, against the Scarlets, when he left the action shortly before half-time following an aerial collision.

That was the third such incident to affect Ben during 2017, leading him to announce he was taking an extended 12 month break from the game.

Capped at all Wales age-grade levels, he went to the 2010 Junior World Championships in Argentina, just months after making his Ospreys debut in an LV= Cup win over Leeds Carnegie at the Liberty Stadium.

He made 79 Ospreys appearances, scoring 15 tries.

His service to his home region was recognised when he was presented with his shirt at the end of season dinner in April, as one of the players leaving at the end of the campaign.

Now, having established himself as a personal trainer in London, Ben has opted to hang up his boots permanently. He said:

“It’s taken so long for me to recover, after thinking about it long and hard, the best decision for me, the only one really, was to retire.

“Rugby has been my life but I realise that my long term health is more important so, in the end, my decision was an easy one, particularly having spent time outside of the game and recognising there is life away from the rugby pitch.

“It hasn’t been easy for me over the last couple of years but I’m extremely grateful to everybody at the Ospreys, players, staff and fans, for the support I’ve had. They’ve been absolutely brilliant.

John spoke about the impact of concussion to in RugbyPass’ documentary ‘Beyond 80 – Knocked’, which looked at the impacts of concussion in rugby, speaking with players, referees, medics and sports governing bodies.

Watch: Beyond 80 – Knocked

“I’m not going to be a stranger. The Ospreys are my team and this is my Region. I’ve already been back to watch the boys and I intend keeping in touch, supporting the Ospreys from the stand.”

The former Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr pupil’s early rugby days were spent at Loughor RFC. He then represented his home region at age-grade level before graduating to the Principality Premiership with Aberavon, scoring eight tries in 60 matches for the Wizards.