Former Scotland captain quits on medical advice

FORMER Scotland captain Danny Brough, the joint fifth highest points scorer in rugby league history, has accepted medical advice to retire from the sport, his club Bradford have announced.

Half-back Brough, 38, played over 500 competitive games in a career that began at hometown club Dewsbury in 2002 and was named Man of Steel in 2013. He captained Scotland in the World Cups of 2008, 2013 and 2017 and made a solitary appearance for England against the Exiles in 2012.

He spent most of his career in Super League with Wakefield, having three spells with them, Huddersfield, where he was a driving force behind their 2013 League Leaders’ Shield triumph and Hull, with whom he won the 2005 Challenge Cup.

Brough joined Bradford in 2020 and in his last match, a Championship play-off tie semi-final at Batley in September, he kicked a goal to bring up 3,985 points and draw level with former Leigh stand-off John Woods in fifth place in the all-time scoring list.

Bradford coach John Kear, who also coached Brough at Hull and Wakefield, said: “It is very sad news.

“It was the third time we have worked together and unfortunately it has come to a sad end but one I feel that Danny’s body was telling him and consequently I feel he has made the correct decision.

“A fit Danny Brough would get into any team but father time catches up with everyone and your body tells you when it is time.

“Danny has listened and hopefully he can enjoy a very illustrious retirement and reflect on everything he has achieved.

“He ends as the joint fifth highest points scorer in rugby league history and that is something to be very, very proud of.

“We would like to thank him for what he has done. We did not get to see the best of Danny which is unfortunate and the reasons for that are well documented in forcing his retirement on medical grounds but I would personally like to say thank you.”