USA Rugby
Veteran Eagles centre announces retirement
ESPN Staff
August 8, 2013

USA centre Paul Emerick has announced his retirement after failing to recover sufficiently from an ankle injury.

A veteran of three Rugby World Cups, Emerick won the last of his 53 Test caps against Romania last November - when he originally injured his ankle - scoring 17 tries and also played in 17 World Series events for the USA Sevens side. The well-travelled 33-year-old also enjoyed spells with Italian sides Amatori Catania, Overmach Parma, PRO12 sides Dragons and Ulster and most recently English Premiership side London Wasps.

"No one wants to retire because of injury," said Emerick said, "but as we get older our bodies start to defy our minds. I've been fortunate to make a career out of playing rugby. Hopefully I'll be remembered as a guy who always played his guts out for his team."

USA coach Mike Tolkin said that Emerick, "always hustled, tackled hard, run hard, and been a massive impact player for the Eagles. He has worn the Eagle jersey with pride on every occasion and made his country proud. I am privileged to have been a small part of it."

Former USA coach Tom Billups who was the first to cap the then 23-year-old Emerick said: "Paul's international and professional career is one of American rugby's success stories. His play for the United States was full of pride and purpose. He has become an inspirational figure within the rugby community and I could not be more proud of his career."

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