JOE Cain’s promising rugby career has been cruelly cut short after injury forced him to retire at the age of only 21.
The lock, who grew up in Burton and attended John Taylor High School, has been with Premiership giants Leicester Tigers for the last five years, featuring for their first team as well as for the development team and for loan club Nottingham Rugby.
He had an operation on a troublesome knee injury and has been having fluid drained from the joint on a weekly basis.
Cain, who played for Melbourne RFC as a junior, had hoped to return to playing but his doctors ruled the problem was too serious, leading the former Lullington Park cricketer to make a hugely difficult decision.
“I am absolutely gutted that I’ve had to retire from playing,” he said.
“I have been at Tigers for five years and for five years all I’ve wanted to do is play rugby.
“I kept just hoping it would settle down but it just wouldn’t and the doctors said it was getting silly.
“I had a few more scans and meeting with doctors and people at Leicester, and decided this was for the best.”
Cain will not mope about his ill-fortune for long, though, as he has already decided what he now wants to do instead.
“One door closes and another one opens, and I’ve started doing my coaches badges,” he said.
“Leicester have been absolutely brilliant, so supportive, and have helped put me through my course.”
Now, Cain is focused on the new chapter in his life, and wants to reach the very top.
“For years I’ve been trying to be the best rugby player I can, now I want to be the best coach I can,” he said.
“I’m doing some coaching with our community organisation and then getting some experience coaching in schools.
“After that, we will see, but I would love to get into pro coaching.
“But it’s one step at a time.”
Article source: http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/Ankle-injury-rules-Bath-Rugby-flanker-Matt-Garvey/story-21029187-detail/story.html
Rugby union: Leicester Tigers" former Melbourne junior Joe Cain forced to ...
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