Exclusive: Danny Care officially puts timeline on retirement call and confirms the job ‘that’s not for me’

Ross Heppenstall 21 Mar 2025 11:20 AM

Danny Care insists next season will definitely be his last as he revealed plans to spend more time with family, build his media career and potentially take on a mentoring role.

The Harlequins scrum-half is one of the most respected players of his generation, having amassed 101 England caps during almost two decades at the highest level.

He retired from international duty last year and will hang up his boots altogether at the end of the 2025-26 campaign.

Retirement call

The 38-year-old playmaker cites resilience as a key factor in his longevity but is looking forward to the day when he can spend more time with his wife and children.

“I’ve always been incredibly competitive, even though I probably tell people I’m not,” Care told Planet Rugby.

“Deep down I hate losing and I’ve probably always had a bit of a chip on my shoulder, being smaller than everyone else.

“I’ve always wanted to punch above my weight and that drive has helped me massively throughout my career.

“Chasing highs – and scoring tries – is what I’ve always loved doing and to still be able to do that at the age of 38 makes me feel very lucky.

“I’m going to keep doing it until I can’t do it any longer but next season will definitely be my last.

“It will take me past my 39th birthday and will take me to 20 years playing for Quins, which has quite a nice ring to it.

“My body is probably telling me that it’s coming to an end at some point in the not-too-distant future.”

Care will look to increase his media work when he hangs up his boots. The Yorkshireman loves talking about the game and is a pundit for TNT Sports | Watch TNT Sports on discovery+’s coverage of the Gallagher Premiership.

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First taste

Care, who came through the ranks at hometown club Leeds Tykes before joining Harlequins in 2006, explained: “I really love the media side of things.

“I got my first taste of that when I missed the 2011 World Cup through injury.

“I did some punditry for ITV and really enjoyed it – it gave me a similar buzz to playing; analysing a game in front of the cameras and having to think on your feet a bit.

“I loved the fact it was live and I’ve tried to do as much as I can alongside my playing commitments.

“With my punditry, podcasting and my YouTube that I’ve started off now, I’d really like to keep going with stuff like that.”

Care met wife Jodie in 2013 in Thailand when Jodie was travelling with friends and the pair soon became inseparable.

They welcomed their first son Blake in 2014 before welcoming daughter Koha in 2019 and second son Rocco in October 2022.

“I want to be around my family more,” admitted Care.

“They have sacrificed a lot for me to chase my dreams for 20 years and I’d like to help them to achieve theirs now.

“The biggest thing I want to do when I stop playing is to be around more for them.

“You have to be selfish when you’re playing professional sport – that’s just the way it is – and my wife has been so understanding of that.

“It’ll be time to put her and everyone else first when I stop playing.”

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A coaching gig is not on the table

Care does not see himself moving into coaching but has not ruled out the prospect of staying at Quins in some capacity.

“The thing that excites me is helping young lads to reach their potential,” he said.

“The one-to-one stuff is probably something I’m looking into – maybe a bit of mentoring – but I look at the way coaching is going now.

“We’ll finish a game now and the coaches are into their laptops for six hours afterwards.

“That’s not for me, I’m probably a bit more old school and think the best coaching is the stuff done on the field.

“That’s what I’d like to do and the way it’s going now, I can’t see myself sat on a computer for six hours every night.

“I’d like to do my media work and if there is something I can do to help – whether it’s on the field, leadership or mentoring – then I’m happy to do that.

“But the day-to-day stuff such as sitting on a computer and working with data and stats? That’s not for me.”

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England Danny Care