Former England star reflects on ‘brilliant’ retirement sport as he settles into post-rugby coaching role
Former England star reflects on 'brilliant' retirement sport as he settles into post-rugby coaching role
Former Harlequins and England star Danny Care has admitted to missing his time on the field, but insists that he left the game at the right time.
Speaking to Planet Rugby in October, Care said: “I miss the lads. I miss being a rugby player as a job, but I do not miss everything you have to do as a rugby player, as a job.
“My body told me it was the right time, and mentally it was the same. I’d had my fill and had a brilliant time.
“Now it’s the other lads’ opportunity to have a crack.”
Danny Care’s next steps
New senior coach at Harlequins, Jason Gilmore, recently mentioned that Care was spotted back at the Stoop, a venue where the 38-year-old plied his trade for almost 20 years, but a return to the club on any professional level isn’t on the cards just yet.
“It’s great to go back to the club every now and then to see the boys, and try and get some physio,” Care said, smirking.
Currently in a coaching role at Reeds School, Care said he’s relishing his new chapter: “It’s going amazingly, I’ve really been enjoying it. You get a real nice feeling when you’re helping these young kids. Firstly, to enjoy rugby, some of them have never done it before. Some of them want to get better and better; they’re eager to learn. I love it.”
Care touched upon the fact that many former stars struggle with the transition from elite sports to normal life, saying: “I’m very happy being still close to rugby, which I think is great. I know some lads probably struggle when they go from rugby into something completely different, but I’m still very much involved in rugby.”
Post-retirement padel
Taking some time away from his new role, Care found himself on the padel court last month, joining fellow rugby stars Fin Smith and Joe Marler at the Pro Am Padel Tour alongside numerous other celebrities to raise money for various charities.
Discussing the day’s events, Care said: “It’s been good. The knee’s taking a bit of a hammering here, but it’s good fun. It’s good to get out, good to get in some community padel. It brings everyone together, which is brilliant.
“Me and my good friend Joe Marler meet up every month and have a game of padel with two ex-teammates, Ollie Cohen and Mark Lambert.”
Joking that they do a lot less running when playing with “20-stone men”, Care admitted that there was “a lot more running” at the charity padel event.
“It’s great fun, keeps you fit and gets people talking.”
Post-retirement knee issues
After a professional career spanning over 20 years, his body isn’t quite what it once was, but he’s recently undertaken a knee procedure to help reduce pain and improve recovery.
Care was recently recommended by former teammate Ugo Monye to utilise Arthrosamid®, an innovative alternative to knee surgery, which has been developed to help former sportspeople experience reduced pain and increased mobility in retirement.
Speaking about the treatment, Monye said: “It’s quite simply an injection, which you need to respect and allow it to do its work, and then you can start building up the rehab. I always consider day one to be the easiest of days, and of course, it was; it was just an injection.
“What I now need to do is have a sense of discipline and not rush back to the gym and cause myself further pain. The hard work is going to start in two or three weeks, when I’ve actually got to work at it.
“But in terms of today, it literally has been a pain-free day, a really good day.”
The minimally invasive synovial implant integrates within the tissue lining of the knee joint, softening and increasing the elasticity of this tissue, leading to decreased joint stiffness and pain, and improved knee function, in turn offering retired sportspeople like Care and Monye a new lease on physical life.
