Watson: I had to quit, I was in so much pain

AS Anthony Watson trudged off five minutes into the second-half in Leicester's match at Sale in December, he knew deep down that his career was over.

- PAUL REES

The 30-year old wing, who won 56 England caps and played in five Tests for the Lions, had been plagued by a back injury all year and it had not responded to surgery or a series of injections.

"The decision to retire was forced on me," said Watson, who started his career at London Irish before moving to Bath. "I am grateful it was done that way because I know what I am like and would have pushed myself to the nth degree, risking what should not be risked.

"I was in a lot of pain before the Sale game, unable to sit down, and had to take a lot of painkillers.

I was rooming with Handre Pollard the night before and I woke up at 4am because I was in so much pain.

"I had to take more meds to get back to sleep and played in the match because I did not want to let the team down. I barely played because I had no influence on the game and knew as I walked off there was a chance it would be the last one."