Warriors prospect Wood forced into retirement (From Worcester News)

Worcester Warriors rugby prospect Rob Wood forced to quit the game

10:30am Friday 3rd August 2012 in Sport Exclusive By Tom Guest, @tomguestWN #WENsport

WARRIORS prospect Rob Wood has been forced to retire from professional rugby due to ongoing knee problems.

Second row Wood, who is the younger brother of England and former Worcester back-rower Tom, has struggled for several years with tendonitis in his knees.

However, he has been advised by doctors that the injury will never recover fully enough to endure the rigours of top-flight rugby and he has been forced to make the tough decision to hang up his boots.

The 24-year-old from Warwick, who impressed the Warriors coaching staff sufficiently to be named in this year’s slimmed-down academy squad, said: “Unfortunately my knee injuries have not recovered and I am unable to play rugby anymore, so I left the club and retired.”

One man who has worked closely with Wood during his time at Sixways is academy assistant manager Gary Meechan.

He said: “I have known Rob since he was 14-years-old and he had the potential and promise to be an excellent top-of-the-game rugby player.

“He has struggled with his fitness, though, because of his knees and, unfortunately, this decision doesn’t come as a surprise, but we are obviously all really disappointed for Rob.

“Rob has prepared himself for the worst all the way through and the medical staff at Worcester have done absolutely all they could do to get him through it.

“When Rob went to Sweden for his most recent operation, we had to make a decision and set a window of opportunity as to whether or not he would be able to get better.

“I am disappointed for Rob because he has worked really hard through it all and it has been a daily struggle to be pain-free.

“Unfortunately, he gets up every morning and has pain in his knees and the only way to end that is to stop running and playing professional rugby.”