Guinness Prem - Hanley forced into retirement

Eurosport - Fri, 18 Jul 10:55:00 2008

The Premiership's leading try-scorer Steve Hanley of Sale has retired from rugby due to a back injury suffered against Bayonne last season.

Steve Hanley - Sale - 0

The 29-year-old (pictured), who has one England cap, made the announcement during his testimonial launch at Edgeley Park on Thursday.

"I have been struggling with a disc problem in my back, since the Bayonne game and have received medical advice that I will not recover enough to be able to play Premiership rugby again," said Hanley.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Sale and have some great memories playing for the club. Helping the club to its first piece of silverware in 2002, by beating Pontypridd was very special."

The long-striding Hanley, who stands at 6' 4", joined the Sharks from Aspatria in 1998 and scored 104 tries in his 191 games.

His total of 75 Premiership tries is an all-time record for English rugby's top-flight league.

"It was a pleasure to play in the same team as Steve," said Hanley's former Sale team-mate and England legend Jason Robinson.

"He is a great lad and as his statistics show, one of the best finishers in the game."

Hanley's one cap came in the defeat by Wales at Wembley, although he did manage to score a try.

Terence O'Rorke / Eurosport

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  1. I agree.. a great servant of Sale and Rugby in general. He should have been given a great number of England starts at a time when we were picking Cohen week in week out.
    I hope he can play a testimonial and light up Hanley corner once more

    From Robert F, on Fri 18 Jul 8:16PM

  2. a classy player, and a real loss to rugby.

    From TheLibraryOfficer, on Fri 18 Jul 9:51AM
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