Guinness Premiership
Saints hooker Friswell forced to retire
Scrum.com
January 7, 2009
Northampton Saints hooker Stuart Friswell, August 7 2008
Northampton hooker Stuart Friswell has been forced to retire due to injury © Getty Images
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Northampton Saints hooker Stuart Friswell has been forced to retire from the game after a lengthy battle with injury.

Former England U21 international Friswell, 25, who joined the Saints from National League One side Coventry in 2008, suffered an injury to his upper body during a pre-season match against Cardiff Blues. Despite intensive rehabilitation with the Saints' performance staff the injury has not healed sufficiently for him to continue his career.

"It was an exciting time for me when I joined the Saints in the summer," Friswell said. "It is a fantastic club with superb coaches, players and supporters who all welcomed me wholeheartedly. We were about to return to the Premiership and I was looking forward to working hard to try and achieve a spot in the Saints first team.

"So I am obviously very disappointed that my career has ended in this way. But I would like to thank Jim Mallinder and Dorian West for the opportunity they gave me and I wish the Saints every success in the future."

Saints Director of Rugby Jim Mallinder was disappointed that Friswell missed out on a chance to show his talents on the Premiership stage.

"Rugby is a physical game but it is always unfortunate when a player has to end his career due to injury," said Saints Director of Rugby Jim Mallinder. "Stuart has been a popular and committed member of the playing squad since he joined in the summer and he wanted to get fit and show what he could do on the field. However this has not been possible. I, and all the Saints coaches, wish him all the best for the future."

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