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Three-time Six Nations winner announces early retirement due to severe neck injury

BY Jack Tunney  ·  Friday Apr 21, 2023

Due to a serious neck injury, Josh Navidi, flanker for both Wales and Cardiff, has announced his immediate retirement from rugby. The injury occurred during his 33rd appearance for Wales in a match against South Africa in July last year, and Navidi has been unable to fully recover since then.

 The 32-year-old made 184 appearances for Cardiff and was an instrumental part of the Welsh team that won three Six Nations crowns, including the Grand Slam in 2019, and reached the World Cup semi-finals in the same year.

In a statement on Cardiff’s website, Navidi said: “It is with great sadness but also an immense amount of pride that I am announcing my retirement from rugby,

“Although I knew this day would come eventually, I don’t think I was ever really able to prepare myself for how difficult it would be to put into words just how much of an impact the game has had on my life.

“I will certainly miss playing but I am very proud of everything I have achieved in my career, whether with Cardiff, Wales or the British and Irish Lions,

“I’m now looking forward to the next chapter beyond rugby.”

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