1
'I'm incredibly sad': Theo Brophy-Clews has retired from playing with immediate effect at the age of only 24
London Irish midfielder Theo Brophy-Clews has announced his immediate retirement from professional rugby on medical grounds at just the age of 24. The young back had put together a run of eleven appearances between December and April but he lasted just a couple of minutes of his club’s Challenge Cup quarter-final defeat last month at Bath due to concussion.
ADVERTISEMENT
Having made his debut in 2015/16, he made a total of 63 appearances and scored in excess of 110 points before now putting his health first and calling it quits in an open letter published on the London Irish website.
Brophy-Clews wrote on the Irish website: “It is with a heavy heart that I write to announce my retirement from professional rugby due to concussion. After receiving advice from the medical staff at London Irish and the Complex Concussion Clinic, it’s clear to me that I cannot continue to play as I would be putting both my short-term and my long-term health at risk.
“Rugby is an incredibly special sport and it has been a dream come true to play it professionally. The memories I have made, the people I have met and the challenges I have had to go through have made my career incredibly fulfilling and special. Rugby has taught me so much and, most importantly, how to be a decent person and to enjoy the ride, no matter how tough it gets.
“There is obviously a lot of emotion involved in a decision like this. First and foremost, I recognise that my health is the most important thing to consider. I have to accept that I can no longer put my body and my head through the physical challenges required to be a top-level player.
📸 Looking back at some of @theobrophclews' most memorable moments in a London Irish jersey!
We will miss you, Theo – you’ll always be welcomed at Hazelwood.#ExileNation pic.twitter.com/DZtnSy0AR2
— London Irish (@londonirish) May 21, 2021
“Secondly, I’m hugely grateful for the time I have had in the game, the people I have shared the pitch with and being involved in the special community we have in English rugby. Lastly, I’m incredibly sad. While I appreciate that there is so much more to live for and more important issues in the world, I’m really going to miss it. The emotions you go through, the bonds and special memories you make with the people around you, let alone playing the game you love for a living, will all be incredibly tough to leave behind.
“There are too many people to thank here but know if you have ever messaged me, watched a game or played with me, I’m thankful for you and your support. It hit me the other day that there are not many other jobs that you get to earn a living while having your family name on your back.
ADVERTISEMENT
“I have loved representing my whole family every time I ran out onto the pitch. My mum, dad, big sister and my girlfriend Melanie have made me who I am and have supported me unwaveringly throughout my life and career. I love them more than anything.
“To my teammates, coaches and support staff at school, club, county and England age-grade, thank you. Growing up playing rugby was incredibly fun and rewarding and there are so many people who shaped my career at a young age. There are so many people who have improved my life for the better at Newbury RFC, Berkshire, Abingdon School and the national age-grade programme. I will always look back at that time during my development as a rugby player with huge happiness and gratitude.
“To everyone at London Irish, I have wanted to represent this club since I was a kid and playing over 50 first-team games has been one of my proudest achievements,” continued Brophy-Clews. I have been part of some massive ups and downs for the club and many brilliant environments, so thanks to all the boys, staff, coaches, and supporters for making my time here so special.
“A special thank you to the two people at the club who had the bravery to tell me what is important in life. It can’t have been easy, but I really appreciate it. Finally, to the London Irish supporters and rugby enthusiasts in general – thank you for supporting us, especially when it hasn’t been easy. You are the reason we get to play rugby for a living and thank you for allowing us to live our dreams.
ADVERTISEMENT
“If you have got this far, I appreciate it. I’m looking forward to the next chapter of my life knowing I’ve been lucky enough to live my dream.”
"If we had Anthony Watson, Joe Cokanasiga, Johny Williams and Jonathan Joseph, if they were all here we would have a nice conundrum for selection"
– Declan Kidney knows Irish have a reputation as a feeding ground for its Premiership rivals#LIRvEXE
https://t.co/7058VnQWLk— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 18, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Wasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
3 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
30 Go to comments