Vickery calls it a day after sustaining another injury
Phil Vickery, the former England prop has decided to retire from the game. The 34 year old Cornishman who has come back from four major back operations is insistent that it is the right decision at the right time, after being told that the risks were now too high after sustaining a knock in the game against Gloucester at the end of September.
"It’s all been a whirlwind. It’s disappointing but I’m looking forward to the future and am certainly very proud of what I’ve achieved," he told Sky Sports.
"I can look back with a lot of fond memories but of course it’s sad. I’ve been lying in bed at night thinking what to do and what’s right – but think I’ve made the right decision and it’s a decision I’m happy with.
"The more I look back and think about it the more I think what I’ve done is fantastic. I’m not finishing because I don’t want it anymore. It’s just enough is enough. I’ve got to accept that as a sportsman.
"I don’t think anyone can question my desire or ability to want to play the game."
Known as Raging Bull, Vickery has won most of the honours the game has to offer. He has captained his country, played for the Lions and won the Rugby World Cup.
Former team mate and current England Team Manager Martin Johnson and RFU Chief Executive John Steele have paid the following tributes.
MARTIN JOHNSON SAID:
“Phil is a great bloke and epitomised the team mate you always wanted to play a game of rugby with.”
RFU CHIEF EXECUTIVE JOHN STEELE SAID:
“Phil has been a superb ambassador to the game of Rugby Union at every level. He played and led England by example to a memorable RWC final in 2007. Phil has always given everything for England and to every club he has played for from Bude to Redruth through to his two professional clubs Gloucester Rugby and London Wasps. He will be sorely missed as a player but I am sure Phil will stay involved in the game moving forward. We wish him the best of luck for the future.”
Philip John Vickery was born 14 March 1976 in Barnstaple, Devon, to Cornish parents. The family lived in Bude, Cornwall where Phil was educated at Budehaven School. His interest in sport developed as a youngster and by the age of 12 he began to play Rugby. It soon became clear that he had a natural talent for the game, playing for Bude, then Redruth, and Cornwall Colts and by the age of 16 he gained his first National Representational honour when he was selected for England Schools U/16 group.
Over the next few years Phil gained many more honours at Junior level, culminating with selection for the England Colts squad in 1994, alongside a number of other notable players, many of whom are playing professionally in the English Guinness Premiership.
In the summer of 1995 Phil took the important decision to leave Cornwall at the request of Richard Hill, the England ‘A’ coach and sign professional terms with Gloucester R.F.C.
His career flourished at Kingsholm, graduating through England U-21′s, England Colts and England ‘A’ He made his full England debut on 21 February 1998 at Twickenham when he came off the bench to replace Darren Garforth against Wales, a match England won 60-26.
The summer of 1998 saw Phil taking part in the infamous "Tour from Hell", when a young and inexperienced England side was heavily defeated by Australia, twice by New Zealand, and by South Africa in the space of a month. Phil was one of the few young players to recover from the tour to retain their places in the England team.
In 1999 Phil played in his first World Cup, but a shoulder injury ruled him out of England’s tour of South Africa the following year. His first British and Irish Lions tour, in which Phil played in all three tests, was to Australia in 2001, and in 2002 he captained a young England side, against the odds, to victory against Argentina in Buenos Aires.
While a back injury kept him out of the 2003 Six Nations, he recovered to take part in his second World Cup. On November 22nd 2003, at Telstra Stadium Sydney, the Raging Bull became a World Cup Winner after being an integral part of the England team that beat Australia 20-17. A great day for English rugby and a very proud day for Phil. He was awarded the MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list in 2004 along with the rest of England’s victorious squad.
He is recognised as one of the finest front row forwards in the world, a complete prop, combining an awesome scrummaging technique and destructive tackler with athleticism and superb handling skills.
At the age of only 30 Phil left Gloucester after 11 years and signed for London Wasps, joining the 2004/2005 Premiership Champions at the end of the 05/06 season. He has had to overcome a number of injuries in the last few years, showing massive emotional and physical strength and has achieved full fitness after his thirrd back operation. The Bull made his debut for Wasps in October 2006 against London Irish and won his 48th England Cap coming on as a replacement against South Africa, scoring only his second international try.
In January 2007 the Raging Bull was proud and honoured to accept the captaincy of England. He won his 50th Cap leading England out against Scotland on February 2nd in the Six Nations. While England had a shaky start in the 2007 World Cup, under Phil’s leadership the team fought back to reach the finals, but lost 15-6 to South Africa at the Stade de France in Paris.
Phil was again selected for the British & Irish Lions for the tour of South Africa in 2009, having had to miss the 2005 tour of New Zealand due to injury. On 13 June 2009 he ran out as captain of the Lions for the warm up match against Western Province.
He has again been selected for England’s elite squad ahead of the 2009 Autumn Internationals.
Phil Vickery is a rugby player who has reached the pinnacle of his sport; World Cup Winner, British & Irish Lion and England Captain. More importantly to Phil, he is a very proud family man. He is married to the lovely Kate and they have a beautiful daughter, Megan and a beautiful son Harry. His retirement from the game will leave a huge hole, one that’s not easily filled.
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