‘I felt pretty stung and burnt’ – England great reveals the ‘circumstances’ that set him on retirement path
Wasps demise the beginning of the end for 'stung' Joe Launchbury
Former England lock Joe Launchbury has revealed the reasons behind his upcoming retirement, as he says goodbye to a senior career that has spanned over three decades.
The 35-year-old is expected to play his final game of professional rugby this weekend, as Harlequins host Sale at the Twickenham Stoop after a particularly disappointing season.
The former England giant joined the club in 2023 after a brief stint in Japan with Toyota Blitz, where he joined from the now-defunct Wasps. After two good seasons with the west-London outfit, Launchbury has since struggled with injury, last appearing in the Investec Champions Cup against La Rochelle in January of this year.
‘My first decision towards the next stage of my career probably came when Wasps folded’
Once upon a time, he was hitting 30+ matches per season, but now, he’s on just six, with a few games remaining. In his younger years, he told himself he would only retire if no longer needed, but now, with a more experienced head on his shoulders, his body has told him to quit.
Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Rugby podcast, Launchbury reflected on his mindset change, saying: “I couldn’t believe guys retired from international rugby. I couldn’t get my head around guys in the peak of their career retiring from international rugby. I couldn’t understand the thought process. I was like, ‘I’m gonna do this until no one picks me again’.
“And then circumstances change. Opportunities come and go, and my first decision towards the next stage of my career probably came when Wasps folded.
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“I actually had an opportunity to stay in England at Leicester, with Steve (Borthwick), who was the head coach at the time.
“It was mid-season. So it wasn’t a financial move to go to Leicester, it was an opportunity to stay in England and keep the England dream alive, and to try and force my way back into that squad, and that was what I was all set to do. And then the Japan offer literally came last minute, the last opportunity.
“I don’t regret the decision, but that was a bit of a ‘Sliding Doors’ moment for me. It was an opportunity to get away from England.
“I felt pretty stung and burnt by everything that happened with Wasps, and found it quite hard to compute the idea of being literally within 10 days of Wasps folding and being delivered the news, being in an opposition changing room, 30 miles up the road, competing in the same league at a different club.
“I felt it was the time to go to Japan and almost get away from the English rugby bubble, go and do something completely different and use rugby as a vehicle.”
“I never wanted to be that”
Following an enjoyable time in Japan, Launchbury returned to England with Harlequins, the club he started his academy journey with. But his arrival sparked the end, knowing that his time with England was done.
“I always felt that it came to a sort of a natural end,” he continued. “While I have really enjoyed the last three years, I found your body gives up on you a little bit, and that’s kind of the hardest bit.
“Everyone, they always ask you, what’s first, your body or your mind? And for me, my body’s giving up, and then my mind follows a little bit. Playing through pain, being in pain, not quite being able to do stuff that you thought was easy five years ago.
“You notice you’re a little bit off the pace, you’re a tiny bit behind and I didn’t want to be that player who the young guys looked at and gone, “How did he play for England so many times? He’s useless.” I never wanted to be that.
“I’m so grateful to be leaving when I’m leaving.”