Matt Banahan hangs up his boots

Gloucester outside back Matt Banahan has announced his retirement from professional rugby. 

The 33 year-old hangs up his boots with nearly 300 Premiership caps under his belt – having racked up over 250 appearances for Bath before joining Gloucester in 2018. 

“My journey is coming to a end, this will be my last season. I will enjoy what the next so many months have got for me,” Banahan Tweeted. 

In a recent interview, Banahan said that keeping the pace with the younger crop of players was proving a challenge. 

 “The way I put it is this; an F1 car from the 1960s is still the fastest car that was around then. I am classing myself as a 1980’s F1 car and these are 2020 F1 cars and they are much faster than I have ever been. 

“It is great to see these players develop around me and the opportunities they have given themselves. My game has changed over the years and my brakes are working just as fast but the natural gift they have is amazing and it is great to be part of it.” 

Banahan would have played his last game this weekend, however, due to Covid-19 in the Gloucester camp, their fixture against Worcester has now been called off.