Top 14: Neck injury forces former England prop Andrew Sheridan to retire
Tuesday 30 September 2014 11:15, UK
Former England prop Andrew Sheridan has been forced to retire from rugby because of a damaged neck.
The 34-year-old has not played since last February after undergoing surgery on a neck injury, but he had one year remaining on his contract with French club Toulon.
However, after consultation with doctors, he has been told that his neck can no longer cope with the strain of playing rugby.
Sheridan made 40 appearances for England during an eight-year international career and was regarded as a fearsome scrummager.
His highlights often came against Australia, and he played a crucial role England's 2007 World Cup quarter-final win over the Wallabies in Marseille, one of his seven appearances in the tournament as England reached the final before losing to South Africa.
Wine
He went on two Lions tours - in 2005 and 2009 - playing in two Tests against South Africa on the latter, and he was also part of the England team that won the 2011 Six Nations.
At club level, Sheridan was part of the Sale side in 2006 that became the first team to win the Premiership title having finished the season top of the table.
He joined Toulon in 2012, after nine years with the Sharks, and started in their 2013 Heineken Cup final victory over Clermont Auvergne.
Sheridan will now turn his attention to the wine industry as he intends to pursue a career as a wine buyer, having taken up the hobby since moving to France.
A statement from Sheridan's management company, James Grant, confirmed his retirement on Tuesday morning.
It read: "James Grant has announced today that their client Andrew Sheridan has retired from rugby with immediate effect on medical grounds.
"Andrew, 34, has failed to recover from the neck injury he sustained last season playing for Toulon and the subsequent operation he underwent, back in February.
"Capped 40 times by England and twice by the British and Irish Lions, Andrew will now focus on completing his qualifications in wine before looking to forge a new career in the trade."
