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Goode in action for Wasps against Leinster in last season's Champions Cup. Inpho/Billy Stickland
Hanging up the boots

Andy Goode forced to retire just two months after joining London Irish

Goode retires as the Premiership’s second-highest points scorer.

VETERAN OUTHALF ANDY Goode has been forced to retire with immediate effect.

The 35-year-old joined London Irish from Wasps in the summer with the intention of playing one more season in the Aviva Premiership, but has been forced to call time on his career after failing to recover from an injury picked up towards the end of last season.

Goode is the second highest scorer in the history of the Premiership with a total of 2,147 points, second only to Charlie Hodgson of Saracens.

He does depart the game with one impressive record though, with the longest amount of time between his debut and final game, a full 16 years and 204 days, with two spells at Leicester, and further stints at Saracens, Worcester Warriors and Wasps, before joining London Irish in the summer.

The 17-times capped Englishman also spent part of his career abroad with Brive in France, as well as a brief spell on loan at Super Rugby’s Sharks.

The player says that while he’s devastated he hasn’t been able to end his career on his own terms, he’s grateful for the highly-decorated 16 year career he’e enjoyed.

“To represent England 17 times is such an honour and something I’ll look back on with pride. Winning the Premiership five times, the Heineken Cup twice and the Anglo Welsh Cup, were more than I could ever have wished for.

“I can honestly say I’ve loved playing for every team and I feel immensely proud to have achieved what I have at each club.”

He added: “I’m really disappointed I can’t continue my career at London Irish and I have really enjoyed my short period with them. They have a fantastic Training facility at Hazelwood and I wish them every success in the future under their new coaches and leadership.”

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