The Sports Lowdown For All Your News and OpinionsEngland and Leicester Tigers centre Anthony Allen has been forced to retire from the game at the age of just 28 after a persistent knee injury failed to sufficiently recover.
The former Gloucester player won two England caps, the first being in 2006 before he was recalled to the squad for the tour to South Africa in 2012. Allen joined the Tigers from Gloucester in 2009 and played in four Premiership finals for the Midlands based side, winning two of them.
Allen told the official Tigers website “I did not expect to play my last game at such a young age. But it’s something I have had to come to terms with. It’s extremely disappointing.”
Allen was Leicester’s vice-captain and is likely to take up some kind of role at the club in the future and continued “I’ve played alongside and against so many great players, I played in five Premiership finals with Gloucester and Leicester, played for my country and have shared in many massive occasions in 10 years as a player.”
“I’d like to thank the Tigers for their support throughout this process and also thank my family and friends. I will hugely miss running out on to the pitch every weekend.”
