One-club man Will Welch to retire after 15 seasons at Newcastle

Will Welch has confirmed that he will retire from playing at the end of the current season following a 15-year career with Newcastle Falcons. A statement read: “Newcastle Falcons great Will Welch, a one-club man who has spent 15 years playing for his hometown team, will retire from rugby at the end of the current season.

“The 33-year-old sits joint-second on the Falcons’ all-time appearance list, having done battle on 275 occasions. The former RGS Newcastle pupil made his first-team debut as an 18-year-old in October 2008 and became the Falcons’ youngest-ever captain when he took over the reins at the age of just 22, leading the club to promotion and forming the cornerstone of the Falcons’ pack for well over a decade.

“Welch is tied in second with Tom May on 275 appearances for the Falcons, with the pair both 12 behind the former prop and current forwards coach Micky Ward. It has also been confirmed that Will Welch will have a testimonial year, details of which will be announced in due course. The flanker hopes to remain in Newcastle where he and his wife Laura have two sons, Rex and Max.”

Welch said: “It’s meant the world to me for me to play for the team I used to come and watch when I was a kid. From being in the Falcons academy, signing professionally as a teenager and going on to spend my whole career here – the whole thing has just been a dream.

“I have had an ankle issue for the past couple of seasons which has been niggling me every week, and I just needed to get it sorted. It’s a six-month recovery which unfortunately takes me past the end of this season, but on the positive side it will fix it for life after rugby. I’ll at least be able to run around with my kids, and I’m retiring on my own terms.

“I have been thinking about retirement for a little while now, and it was probably going to come at some point in the near future anyway with the way my ankle was. Coupled with the fact I have a career opportunity outside of rugby, it just feels like the right time. I could potentially have tried to hold on for another year, but I don’t want to do it that way.

“This decision just means I’m doing it on my own terms and I know this is my last season, rather than having it forced upon me. I spoke to a number of people who have already retired from rugby, and a lot of them just had that moment where they were like ‘that’s me, I’m done’.

“It was similar for me, to be honest, and there was just a point where I knew it was the right call. I’m happy with my decision, I have loved my time here and now I’m looking forward to the next chapter of my life.

“Doing something fresh and different is a new challenge for me, and I’m excited about that. I’m doing my finance exams at the moment with a view to taking a job after that. I’ve had the chance to plan for this, and it’s much better that way rather than being pushed out or having an injury make the decision for me.

“It’s been a rollercoaster journey at times, but one that I have enjoyed. I always wanted to be there for the club and help them through those difficult situations, but the support from my teammates and the staff at the club has always been great.

“There is a good bunch of us came through around the same time with the likes of Alex Tait and Mark Wilson, and we all share the same feeling around how much the club means to us.”

Newcastle chairman Semore Kurdi added: “Will retires as a true Newcastle Falcons great, and it has been an absolute privilege to have him with us for well over a decade. He is somebody who always put the team before individual gain, he gave absolutely everything on the field and the work he did behind the scenes as club captain was outstanding.

“He epitomises everything we are about as a club, and I wish him every success once his time with us comes to an end. Hopefully we’ll still have the pleasure of having him on site for game days with his family, and he’ll continue to be part of the club in a different way.”