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The Twitter reaction to retirement of 'nicest bloke' Mark Wilson
Danny Care and Mike Brown were two of the many players to lead the tributes on social media after England back-rower Mark Wilson announced on Monday that he was retiring from playing with immediate effect. The 32-year-old, who won 23 England caps in his Test career, made a 14-minute appearance off the Newcastle bench in their January 29 Gallagher Premiership loss to Gloucester, his first action since June 12 last year.
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It was in September when a meniscus tear to his knee was operated on. It was said at the time it would take between eight to twelve weeks to heal but it took Wilson longer than that to make his comeback and he has now called it quits following a career in which he featured off the bench in the 2019 World Cup final and won his last of his Test caps eleven months ago in the Guinness Six Nations game away to Ireland.
Wilson, who played 237 games for Newcastle, wrote: “I have taken the decision to retire from rugby. It’s a decision that has been hard to make, but it’s the right one for me and my family right now.
“I’ve been involved with the Falcons since I was a 14-year-old coming over from Kendal for academy training and I have got some amazing memories. You never really know how you are going to end your career, but for me, this is my time to call it a day.
“My injury has made me re-assess where I’m at from a career point of view. That has been in the background and been in my thoughts quite a lot and whilst it hasn’t been the case that the injury has physically ended my career in its own right, it’s certainly been one of the main things which has added to my decision.”
“That dream of playing for England was always there.”
After announcing his retirement, we take a look back at Mark Wilson's rugby journey ?
His story ? pic.twitter.com/zlQiRS5eEl
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) February 15, 2022
The Valentine’s Day announcement by Wilson generated a huge reaction across the rugby world and Care, who was the England scrum-half in San Juan in June 2017 when the flanker made his Test debut, tweeted: “Good on you, Wils! Genuinely the nicest bloke I have met in Rugby. Take care and catch up soon pal.”
Brown, who was the England full-back that same day in Argentina, added: “Legend!” Others to comment on Wilson’s retirement included Alex Goode, who said “congratulations on an incredible career’, Ed Slater, who said “brilliant player and person”, and Ollie Phillips, who tweeted “hell of a knock”.
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Rugby fans were similarly gracious in their comments about Wilson. Andrew Willis wrote: “Seriously underrated player, would have made a great England captain and could have had 50 caps in any other era.”
Good on you Wils! Genuinely the nicest bloke I’ve met in Rugby. Take care and catch up soon pal ??
— Danny Care (@dannycare) February 14, 2022
Legend! ?. We'll miss him out there!
— Sale Sharks ? (@SaleSharksRugby) February 14, 2022
It's been an absolute pleasure dealing with Wils over the past 10+ years, both as media manager and journo. Hard as nails, and what a top, top bloke. Best of luck with the well-deserved retirement! https://t.co/CTQrCmRgKA
— mark smith (@markismith50) February 14, 2022
Mark made his England debut against Argentina in 2017 and went on to win another 22 caps for England ???????
Eddie Jones has praised Mark for his commitment and determination ? pic.twitter.com/CgO1VQKTYg
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) February 14, 2022
Comments on RugbyPass
I’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
4 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
6 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
11 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
11 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
4 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to comments