England and Harlequins scrum-half Danny Care announces retirement from professional rugby
Updated 13/05/2025 at 16:46 GMT+1
With 101 England caps and two Gallagher Premiership titles to his name, Danny Care will go down as a great of the game. However, the scrum-half has now called time on his incredible career. The 38-year-old looked set to hang up his boots at the end of next season, but he will now call it a day when the current season finishes. Quins are currently seventh in the table with two games remaining.
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England and Harlequins scrum-half Danny Care has announced his retirement from professional rugby.
The 38-year-old won 101 caps for England before announcing his international retirement in March 2024, and helped Quins win the Gallagher Premiership in 2012 and 2021.
Care previously said he would stay with Harlequins until the end of the 2025/26 season, which would have been his 20th with the club.
However, it has now been confirmed that he will call it a day at the end of the current campaign after an illustrious career with club and country.
"So, it's finally time. Unfortunately, after 19 years of playing for this incredible Club, I'm going to be retiring from rugby at the end of the season," said Care.
"I just wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for letting a lad from Leeds come down to this Club and feel like home from day one."
He continued: "To all the fans. Thank you for everything you've given me and my family. As I said, you brought us into your hearts. You've sung my name louder than it's ever deserved. And I can't really put into words what representing this Club and playing in front of you all has meant to me.
"To Charles and to Duncan, the owners of the Club - two magnificent people, who’ve given me this opportunity to play here, and have stuck by me all these years – thank you both. I’d also like to thank all my amazing teammates, all the coaches, staff members who have been a part of my career.
"I will be supporting this Club forever, and I’ll always be a Quin."
In 2023, he became Quins' all-time appearance holder with 352, and currently stands at 394 for the club. He currently ranks second in all-time Premiership appearances behind former England scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth.
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A club stalwart, Care signed for the club in 2006 after Leeds Tykes were relegated from the Premiership.
Whilst the more experienced nines Andy Gomarsall and Steve So'oalo were away at the 2007 Rugby World Cup, Care seized his opportunity with a run of standout performances, beginning an acclaimed career in the four quarters.
His form that season earned him his first England cap on the 2008 tour to New Zealand, where he scored his first try in the second Test.
Care was a part of the England squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2023 World Cup, where they lost to South Africa before beating Argentina in a third-place play-off.
He also helped England win three Guinness Six Nations titles in 2011, 2016 and 2017.
Care has scored one try in 17 appearances for Quins this season and has mostly been used as a second-half substitute.
His side are currently seventh in the Gallagher Premiership table after 16 games, six points off Sale Sharks in fourth with two matches remaining.
'ONE OF THE GREATEST' - MILLARD
The club's director of rugby, Billy Millard, called Care "one of the greatest" to play for Harlequins.
"It has been an honour to work with Danny these last 6 seasons," he said. "He will go down as one of the greatest to play for Harlequins, and his spirit and approach to the game has luckily been passed down to our group of player.
"I will never forget that look on his face after we won the Premiership in 2021, he drove the back end of that season brilliantly. His impact at this club has been immense and his presence and cheeky grin will be missed around the environment."
Harlequins chief executive, Laurie Dalrymple also heaped praise on Care, saying: "It’s hard to put into words the impact Danny has had on not just Harlequins Rugby Club, but the sport of Rugby Union as a whole.
"As he steps away from the professional game, he leaves behind an incredible legacy - close to 400 appearances for Harlequins and over a century of international caps for England is no small feat.
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"Danny is a player and person who embodies the values of our Club, and he’s made a lasting mark both on the field and in our community in his 19 years at The Stoop.
"We’re delighted Danny will continue to work closely with the Club and the Harlequins Foundation in an ambassadorial role, and we’ll continue to see him at The Stoop for seasons to come.
"On behalf of everyone associated with Harlequins, I would like to congratulate Danny on a glittering career and thank him for his outstanding contribution to our Club.
"We wish Danny, [his wife] Jodie and his young family the best of luck in the next chapter of their lives."
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