Mathew Tait retires: Leicester Tigers and England back forced to quit rugby due to Achilles injury

Tait was capped 38 times by England and played a pivotal role in their run to the 2007 Rugby World Cup final, before forging a successful eight-year spell with Leicester

Mathew Tait has announced his retirement from rugby with immediate effect (Getty)

England rugby international Mathew Tait has been forced to retire with immediate effect on medical advice after failing to recover from an Achilles injury.

After a 15-year professional career, in which he won 38 caps for England and played in the 2007 Rugby World Cup final, Tait has failed to make an appearance this season due to an ongoing Achilles injury, resulting in him being advised to end his career with Leicester Tigers.

“It isn’t how I planned to finish up but ultimately, this ongoing problem with my Achilles has caught up with me and, on the advice of people much more in the know than me, it’s the right time to call it quits,” Tait said on Tuesday.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time at Tigers over the past eight years. Having played against Leicester before arriving at the club, it was a dream to be able to call Welford Road home and I leave having enjoyed many special memories with a lot of special people over my time here.

“I’ve been so fortunate to achieve many things in the game and it’s hard to pinpoint one highlight, let alone a few, but obviously being able to win the Premiership with Tigers stands out, as well representing my country and, of course, playing in a World Cup Final.

“I also think being able to have played against and alongside my brother Alex is something I’ll always remember as being very special.”

Tait made his professional debut for Newcastle Falcons in 2004 and quickly earned international recognition a year later when, at the age of 18, he was selected by then-England head coach Andy Robinson to start the Six Nations opener against Wales. A centre who also had the pace to play on the wing and skills to cover full-back, Tait was famously on the end of two heavy tackles from Gavin Henson in a year when Wales secured the 2005 Grand Slam and he had to wait more than a year before picking up his next cap, but he soon enough forced his way into Brian Ashton’s squad as a regular and was the starting outside centre for England’s run to the World Cup final in 2007, where England lost 15-6 to South Africa.

He remained in the international fold under Martin Johnson until receiving his final cap on the 2010 summer tour of Australia, ending up with five tries in 38 appearances. He always retires as a Commonwealth Games silver medallist, having been a part of the England side that reached the Sevens final at Melbourne 2006.

But while his England career ended in 2010, the following year he joined Leicester from Sale Sharks and enjoyed a rejuvenation at club level, helping the Tigers to the 2013 Premiership title and making 143 appearances for the Welford Road outfit, along with captaining the side in recent years.

Mathew Tait was part of the England squad that reached the 2007 Rugby World Cup final (Getty)

“I owe a lot to a lot of people who have made it possible for me to live out my dream and I thank every one of those people who have played a role from my school days, through Newcastle and Sale, England and, of course, here at Tigers,” Tait added.

“I’m grateful for the friends I’ve made and the experiences I’ve had alongside such great team-mates and working with fantastic coaches.

“I also have to thank my family, especially my parents and my wife Alexa, and also all of the supporters from clubs I’ve represented, in particular the incredible Tigers supporters who make this club so great and make Welford Road the best club rugby ground in the world.”

Tait made 134 appearances for Leicester Tigers with his final match coming at the end of last season (Getty)

Leicester director of rugby Geordan Murphy played alongside Tait before his own retirement I 2013, and he paid tribute to the versatile back as one of the greats of his era. “Mat has been among the leading players of his generation since making his breakthrough as a teenager at Newcastle,” said Murphy.

“In the past few seasons we have been able to use him at centre and full-back, and it says a lot for his knowledge and his quality as a player that he has been able to absorb the detail of different roles and has always been willing to play wherever he has been needed in the team.

“As a senior player, he has been influential here on and off the field and has given great service to the club. He will always be welcome at Welford Road and we wish him and his family all the very best for the future.”