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Ex-Ireland age-grade prop leaves Doncaster for career outside the game

(Photo by James Baylis via Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images)

Former Ireland age-grade prop Ben Betts has decided to put a stop to his career in England at Doncaster in preference of full-time employment outside the game back in Ireland. 

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The 23-year-old, who appeared in the 2016 Junior World Championships final in Manchester against England, spent two seasons at Leicester, featuring off the bench for the Tigers in a January 2018 Champions Cup tie versus Castres. 

He spent recent seasons at Ealing Trailfinders and on loan at Nottingham. However, having originally agreed to join Doncaster Knights for the new 2020/21 Championship season, Betts has now opted to not take up the contract. 

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      A statement on the Knights club website read: “The former Ireland U20s star was due to join the Knights for the new season after it was announced he had signed from Ealing Trailfinders in June. 

      “However, the 23-year-old has now decided to focus on interests outside of rugby, stepping away from the professional game to transition into full-time employment back in Ireland.”

      Doncaster coach Steve Boden added. “It is disappointing to lose Ben for the upcoming season but we respect his decision and wish him every success for the future as he moves away from full-time professional rugby. The decision does mean that we are now a man down in the tighthead position and efforts to recruit a suitable replacement are well underway, fingers crossed we should be able to announce more later this week.”

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      Betts had spoken some years ago of his desire to crack professional rugby and make it on the biggest stage. “I hope to achieve my goals which are playing at the highest level of rugby possible consistently throughout the peak of my career, whether that’s European Cup rugby, international or even bigger,” he told sportinglimerick.com.

      “To do that I need to be playing rugby consistently and at a good level, always wanting to get better and to do that you need to be in action every weekend.”

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      Hellhound 20 minutes ago
      Steve Hansen: The Boks are 'rolling the dice and so far they’ve got away with it'

      As I said, always blame the ref. The Boks can't win unless the ref helped. It was a hooker and not a prop. You don't even have your facts straight. You just confirmed what I said idiot. Blame the ref for the try😂As for hate? I don't hate the AB's, just some of their fans like you. You don't look at the whole picture. All you see is AB's players. You don't look at the opposition. No, you see what you want to see and then open your mouth, spew drivel and then get heated up about it screaming hate. Yes, the Boks haven't won in NZ in awhile. Boo hoo, cry me a river. That will change. A very strong AB's side barely beat a weak C French team and you think they are in such a good place. I would not bleat such prowess if I were you. The Boks played against much weaker opposition and they were very disappointing. Lots to work on. However, we know what these Boks are capable of. We know what the youngsters are capable of. We know the depth we have and that depth is extreme. Lots of new youngsters bleeding through too. Better than most of the current AB's. Have you watched the URC? No. Japan league? No. English Premiership? No. You watch SR and you are awed by what you see. You think the world will fall at the AB's feet, that they will smash everyone in front of them(couldn't do it to a C French team). You are blind. Foolish. Big mouth and overhyping a team that is already out of time for the WC. At the most 17 Tests left to give players time to shine. Razor doesn't even have a full A team yet. Prospects yes. Possible future stars, yes. The Boks have about 3 teams, and about 3 teams with star studded youngsters that can shift up. What will the AB's do when there is injuries? Red card bans? AB's are good. They always will be. However, they are wafer thin in the talent department. As I said, I love the AB's, just not all its arrogant supporters of which you are one. You get good supporters, not you, and then bad woke idiots, that's you!

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