Concussions end Carpenter’s career
Former captain holds record for most matches played for Canadian national team
Aaron Carpenter’s run for 100 is over.
The 80-times capped rugby player has had to call it a career following a series of concussions last fall.
“After three concussions in a short period of time, it is with sadness that I announce my retirement from the game. I wish I could have finished off this season with my team but it just wasn’t meant to be,” he said in a statement Thursday.
“I have had an amazing run in the game and consider myself fortunate to have had so many memorable experiences in my rugby career.”
Carpenter, who turns 35 Tuesday, suffered his last concussion in what turned out to be his final game, a 37-27 defeat of Spain in Madrid last November. He started the game at number eight, winning his 80th cap, but was replaced in the 30th minute by Kyle Gilmour.
He returned to his English club, Doncaster, where the medical staff saw he needed extended rest if he hoped to recover. He had suffered a concussion in a September game. The hope was he would recover and play again.
But after further consultations, retirement was landed on as the correct plan.
Carpenter’s 80 caps make him Canada’s all-time leader — having passed World Rugby Hall of Famer Al Charron — and he scored 17 tries along the way. He also served as Canada’s captain more than two dozen times.
“I would like to thank Doncaster Knights’ owners, Tony de Mulder and Steve Lloyd, the coaches, Clive, Glen and Paul, for showing belief in me and pushing me to my full potential on a daily basis and also to the medical staff — Doctor Zain, Lindsay and Jess — for looking after me in a difficult situation,” Carpenter added.
“I would also like to say a big thank you to my sponsors, Stan and Val Newman for their support this season as well as all the passionate Doncaster Knights fans who were always a great support and a pleasure to chat with.
“I wish the team, who became my second family, all the best for the remainder of the season and now I look forward to the next chapter in my life. I hope to stay involved with rugby at some level and give back to the game as well as the rugby community.”
Carpenter joined Doncaster last January after his previous club, London Welsh, fell into bankruptcy. He played 16 times over the following year for the club in England’s Midlands, home to several Canadians in recent years through a coaching connection made with Doncaster’s director of rugby, Clive Griffiths.
“We are devastated that Aaron has been forced to retire from the game in the nature that he has,” Griffiths said.
“I first came across Carps with Canada over 10 years ago and not only has he become a very important player for me but also a good friend. He has had a fantastic career at both club and international, always leading by example with a faultless attitude.
“Whilst it is disappointing for Aaron, you cannot gamble with injuries of this nature and with a young family to think of I believe Aaron has made the right decision.
“I really do hope that Aaron stays in the game in some form, particularly in his native Canada where he has already played such a big part of their international development.”
First capped by Canada under coach Ric Suggit in 2005 against the United States, Carpenter served four coaches during his national team career, winning favour with each for his dedication, his playing ability and his leadership qualities.
Kieran Crowley, who coached Carpenter from 2008 to 2015, even asked him to try life as a hooker, a challenge Carpenter took on gamely, playing nearly a dozen times in his later years there.
He played in three Rugby World Cups, earning a dozen caps along the way.
He had hoped to play a role in the Rugby World Cup qualifier at the end of the month at B.C. Place Stadium against Uruguay but that’s no longer in the cards.
“I wish I could have finished off this season with my team but it just wasn’t meant to be.” — Aaron Carpenter