24-year-old England prospect Wilson forced to retire
Newcastle Falcons prop Scott Wilson has been forced to retire from professional rugby due to injury.
The 24-year-old has made 80 appearances for the Falcons’ first team since coming through the club’s academy, making his debut as an 18-year-old and going on to play for England’s second-string national side, the Saxons.
“I’ve been playing rugby since I was six and my dream was always to play for Newcastle Falcons,” said Wilson, the Berwick native who scored a try in last season’s European Challenge Cup quarter-final victory over Brive.
“Kingston Park Stadium is where I first started watching rugby, my uncle brought me down to watch the games and I used to stand on the North Terrace come rain, shine, hail or snow to watch the Falcons play. To then go on and be able to play for the team I love has been the biggest highlight, and I’ve got no regrets.
“I’m only 24 but having received a neck injury at Exeter in the Premiership semi-final in May, I have now been told by the doctor that I have to retire, which is obviously a huge blow.”
Newcastle Falcons’ director of rugby Dean Richards was quick to highlight Wilson’s positive contribution to the club, saying: “Scott is a much-loved character here and a hugely-talented rugby player, so it is an enormous shame for him to have to retire from the game at such a young age.
“There is a bigger picture to consider from Scott’s point of view in regards to his long-term wellbeing. It wasn’t an easy moment when he broke the news to the rest of the squad, but everyone here places an enormous value on what Scott has given to this club over the years. We wish Scott all the best for the future, and it goes without saying we will support him in whatever way we can.”
Wilson is at pains to credit the countless figures who have assisted him on his journey, saying: “There are so many people who have helped me along the way and it’s impossible to do all of them justice here, but throughout the academy and into the first team I have to say our academy manager Mark Laycock has been brilliant.
“He used to come up to Berwick to do sessions with me and go across to Sedbergh School, which is a fair old trek, but there have been so many people who have supported me in a load of different ways. All of the Falcons medical staff have been outstanding, the guys who are here and those who have moved on over the years, and I’d like to thank every single person who has played any part in helping me and sticking by me.”
Looking to the future, he said: “One thing I do know is that I’ll always be a Newcastle Falcons fan, and I’ll be here in the stands at Kingston Park cheering on the lads like I used to do when I was a kid.
“I’ve loved my time at the Falcons, I thought of it as my club even before I started in the academy here and that will never change.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I’d say France was far more hard done by in the 2011 final than the All Blacks in this game. Joubert simply refused to call a penalty against the All Blacks in the last quarter even directing an All Black to drop a ball he picked up in an offside position rather than penalizing him. This article also totally discounts the efforts of PSTD. Ask Jordie how well he played. Or the backup flank who played hooker for the entire game. Siya was also a brilliant tackle by Richie from scoring a blinder. Pollard was also fantastic. Look I don’t like the boks style but the only thing more questionable than the content of this article is the timing of it. Get over it already
137 Go to commentsDad Marty was also a handy rugby player for Linwood back in the day. Great bloke. Sensational softball career.
2 Go to commentsWhat ifs are always dangerous. If you look at the game before Sam cane got sent of SA was dominating. You could make the argument the going down to 14 men rallied the troops and made them have to play to win which is always dangerous.
137 Go to commentsOmg… you are bruised And battered Benny. Stop crying … the scoreboard speaks. What a pathetic lover you are.. 🤣🤣🤣
137 Go to commentsPacific Lions, cry me a river
137 Go to commentsThis is the single worst piece of journalism I have ever seen since your last one. As a neutral, who really states that there should be an asterisk next to a win? You are an utter embarrassment to real AB fans, journalism and that joke of a house which pays you for this nonsense. Get a life, Ben.
137 Go to commentsGuys. Cancel the World Cup champions after this analysis. It changes everything. Ben knows. We’ll have to unengrave the Bokke off the trophy and hand it to the ABs, now that I’ve been enlightened about this illegitimate win. This needs to be done. Now!
137 Go to commentsBen is right here though, Springboks were woefully poor with the advantage they had throughout this game. The France match was heroic because that was an even contest this match had it taken place in Rugby Championship would have been an easy win for NZ. If anything this match should tell the Bok coaches that a lot of this team should be changed. They beat this same NZ team by record margin with the same circumstances but with a different core. They bring back the tried and tested guys and they nearly botch this game.
137 Go to commentsI knew who wrote this article from the first few words in the headline…lol. The red card actually did the ABs a favour. It galvanized them, only then did they step up a gear. Before that there was zero momentum.
137 Go to commentsFirstly the foul on Bongi was a planned move just like the NZ master plan with Bryce Lawrence you kiwis are filthy fux perhaps try to play a cleaner game next time I doubt that’s possible tho but don’t worry world rugby is on yr side they trying to take away all the BOKS strengths to help all you weakling as Jeremy Clarkson would say LA OO ZA ERR..🤣
137 Go to commentsAbsolutely spot on Ben. I certainly wouldn't gloat over a win like that. Frustrating as it is it's done and dusted and history will forever show the result.
137 Go to commentsHo hum.
137 Go to commentsNo question they were the better team. But that is the beauty of sport isn’t it!
137 Go to commentsEveryone is into Hurling in Ireland according to Porter, but only 11 of Ireland's 32 counties enter a team into the national competition. Same old blarney.
1 Go to commentsLet’s be honest. The draw and scheduling in the World Cup was a joke but South Africa found a way after having to go the hard (nearly impossible) way to the Cup Final via France and England. NZ had a hard game against France (lost) and had 5 weeks to prepare for the Quarter, 3 weeks knowing it was Ireland. NZ theerfore had to win one big game against an Irish team who played SA and then Scotland 7 days before. They won and it was de facto a semi final because they were playing a relatively weak Argentina team and it was a walk over. In the final a very rested NZ team was playing a very tired SA team and still lost. They couldn’t score more than 11 points. Put another way SA had to find a way to win while tired and they achieved that. NZ should thank their lucky stars that they fixed the scheduling in 2015 otherwise they would be dealing with a Bok treble.
137 Go to commentsPerhaps if Bongi wasn’t targeted and removed from the game in the first 3 minutes it would have been quite a different game. Maybe if NZ also faced the same competition the Boks faced to their win NZ would have looked quite different. The final score shows who outplayed who.
137 Go to commentsRubbish article! Abuladze played most of Exeters matches when fit. He got injured against Glasgow a while ago and is out for the rest of the season, thats why he hasnt played for Exeter and Georgia recently. Do some proper research next time!
1 Go to commentsGotta love it when kids throw their toys out the pram and can’t hack it with the grown ups debate. Here’s looking at you turlough! 😉🤣
148 Go to commentsThey lost the game period move on
137 Go to commentsSpringboks won! Stop winging. You can change the game however much you and your rugby colonizing IRB want to and the Springboks will win you at that too. Your mind is colonized my friend get a life
137 Go to comments