Bath Rugby skipper Stuart Hooper has retired from the game with immediate effect.
The 34-year-old lock has struggled with a back injury that he acquired back in a Aviva Premiership game against Leicester Tigers in December, and has been forced to hang up his boots on medical terms.
Speaking to the BBC about his unfortunate retirement, Hooper said:
You need to be 100% to play for Bath at this level, so my playing days are now over.
I implicitly trust their [the surgeon’s] judgement. Now I’m very, very excited about the next challenges in life.
The Englishman started his career at Saracens in 1999 and then signed for Leeds Carnegie in 2003, making a further 113 appearances for the reformed Yorkshire club. In 2008, Hooper transferred to Bath and became an instrumental figure in the Premiership club’s progression in the last eight years. Ahead of the 2011/12 season, he was handed the captaincy at The Rec.
Hooper’s since made 177 appearances for Bath, and has scored 10 tries for Mike Ford’s team. His presence and experience will by thoroughly missed in the West Country, although his absence now paves the way for highly-rated youngster Charlie Ewels to come in and stake his claim for a starting spot in the second-row.
