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Jack Regan explains his immediate-effect retirement from playing
By Liam Heagney
Former Highlanders and Ospreys forward Jack Regan has retired from playing with immediate effect at the age of 27. The Irishman created headlines with a 2021 Super Rugby breakthrough at the Highlanders.
This resulted in a move to Ospreys but injury limited him to just 10 appearances and he has now brought the curtain down on his career following a stint in Japan with Skokki Shuttles.
Writing on Facebook, Regan said: “After much reflection, it is time to end the dream of playing professional rugby. This journey has been nothing short of extraordinary, allowing me to live out my boyhood dream of playing the sport I love at the highest level.
“From the early days at Birr RFC all the way to Japan, incredible experiences with UCD, Ballynahinch, Ulster, Dunedin Sharks, Otago, Highlanders, Ospreys, and Toyota Shokki, I have been blessed to play for some amazing clubs and meet incredible people around the world along the way.
“The last 10 years have been a rollercoaster. From the highs of playing Super Rugby in New Zealand to the tough realities of sport by way of dealing with a possible career-ending health scare.
“This has taken a toll on my mental health, particularly anxiety around my own health has been a constant battle. I have given everything I have to rugby, but it has become clear that my body can’t give enough back.
“Now, it is time to put myself first. I am looking forward to this next chapter with a grateful heart and a focus on health and well-being. Thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout my career. Your encouragement has meant the world to me.”
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Latest Comments
As a fan of both him and his teams at the time, I can tell you there was plenty to like and bank on a succesful career with.
With all due respect to the lot of middling centres at the time, NZ has 5 SR sides and all have International level quality players after all, it was two young sensations at the time, in Charlie Ngatai and Anton Lienert-Brown, along with the dawn Dmac squishing the other versatile players into midfield, that got contract preference when SBW came back into the side for WC year.
So that is no slight on how good a player he already was, I just don't think he had much of a choice with the lack of funds to have that many test standard 12's on the books. So of course as things panned out, we know how would have been their and had plenty of chances with all the injuries SBW, Crotty, ALB, Ngatai, and Laumape. I think a very high chance he nails it and is the Nonu of the 2017 BIL tour.
Go to commentsRobertson should have been a bit more experimental, preparing for the trip up North. Cane should been rested to allow for the Savea (7) and Sititi (8) pairing to be given a run because they appear to be the new way forward. Six is far from settled on with Blackadder only a temporary fix as like his other loosies he is either too short, too light or too slow, and so his best role is cover. ALB,Proctor or both should have been given a run as Australia's midfield is an ever changing experiment and then Reiko could have been put back on the left wing with Telea on the right. Will Jordan could then come on later to fullback or wing.
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