England's Joe Launchbury Announces Retirement Plans

Veteran England lock Joe Launchbury has confirmed that he will be retiring from professional rugby at the end of the current season. With 70 international caps to his name between 2012 and 2022, Launchbury has enjoyed a distinguished career that includes three Six Nations titles and appearances at the 2015 and 2019 Rugby World Cups. Since joining Harlequins in 2023 from Toyota Verblitz, Launchbury has made 50 appearances, although his time on the pitch has been limited to just six games this term. In a statement on the Harlequins' website, Launchbury expressed his gratitude to his teammates, past and present, and reflected on the lifelong friendships and memories that rugby has given him. He also expressed his desire to remain involved in the sport in some capacity, but for now, he is looking forward to spending more time with his family and watching his children grow up.