Aviva Premiership
Falcons centre Tu'ipulotu retires
ESPN Staff
September 12, 2013

Newcastle Falcons' Tane Tu'ipulotu has retired from rugby due to a knee injury.

The 32-year-old joined the Falcons in 2008 and made 83 appearances for the club in a spell which also included a brief sojourn to Japanese side Yamaha Jubilo. But medics have advised him to call time on his professional rugby career.

"It's a painfully tough decision for me to make to stop doing something that I've always loved since a young lad growing up in Tonga," Tu'ipulotu said. "I would like to take this opportunity to thank the coaches, staff and fans for supporting me throughout my career, and to all my fellow teammates both past and present. It's been an honour to share my playing experience with them all."

Falcons director of rugby Dean Richards added: "I'm disappointed and it's a big blow to the team to lose someone of Tane's calibre. Players of Tane's quality don't come around very often, and it's a massive loss to the side. We wish him all the very best for the future."

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