England and Harlequins legend Danny Care will retire from rugby at the end of the season as the 38-year-old scrum-half walks away from the game having won 100 caps for his country as well as the Premiership on two occasions
England great and Harlequins legend Danny Care will retire at the end of the season at the age of 38. It means the decorated scrum-half has just weeks to run on his time as a professional.
Quins are not mathematically out of contention to make the play-offs, but the odds are stacked against them with two games remaining. It means this weekend’s clash with Exeter Chiefs at the Stoop will be his final game in front of his home fans.
Care’s last game is set to be the final day clash at Bristol Bears, unless Quins can make a late move into the top four. The scrum-half moved to the London outfit from Leeds Tykes in 2006 and has become Quins’ all-time leading appearance-maker in the professional era – playing 394 times.
During that time he’s won the Premiership twice – most recently in 2021 – and those exploits helped him forge a stellar international career that saw him win 100 caps for England – a feat he achieved last season.
He made his debut in 2008 played his part in three Six Nations Championship-winning campaigns, including the Grand Slam in 2016. Care also helped England make the 2023 Rugby World Cup semi-final.
The veteran scrum-half will continue to represent Quins in an ambassadorial role and has said on his decision: “So, it’s finally time. Unfortunately, after 19 years of playing for this incredible Club, I’m going to be retiring from rugby at the end of the season.
“I just wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for letting a lad from Leeds come down to this Club and feel like home from day one.
“To all the fans. Thank you for everything you’ve given me and my family. As I said, you brought us into your hearts. You’ve sung my name louder than it’s ever deserved. And I can’t really put into words what representing this Club and playing in front of you all has meant to me.
“To Charles and to Duncan, the owners of the Club – two magnificent people, who’ve given me this opportunity to play here, and have stuck by me all these years – thank you both. I’d also like to thank all my amazing teammates, all the coaches, staff members who have been a part of my career. I will be supporting this Club forever, and I’ll always be a Quin.”
Care has already begun venturing into life off the pitch – he’s regularly been on TNT Sports as a pundit and has started up his own YouTube channel where he’s discussed rugby’s hottest topics.
Harlequins Chief Executive, Laurie Dalrymple, said: “It’s hard to put into words the impact Danny has had on not just Harlequins Rugby Club, but the sport of Rugby Union as a whole. As he steps away from the professional game, he leaves behind an incredible legacy—close to 400 appearances for Harlequins and over a century of international caps for England is no small feat.
“Danny is a player and person who embodies the values of our Club, and he’s made a lasting mark both on the field and in our community in his 19 years at The Stoop.”