Rieder is forced into retirement
ALEX Rieder has become the third Wasps player in under two years to retire on medical grounds.
The 28-year-old follows in the footsteps of former team-mates Sam Jones and Marcus Garratt, whose professional rugby playing career retirements were announced in March 2018 and September 2019 respectively.
Rieder suffered a catastrophic knee injury playing against Exeter Chiefs in February 2018. Some 400 days later he made his return to action for Wasps A during the tail end of the 2018/19 season.
His senior comeback followed in the Premiership Cup encounter with Saracens at the Ricoh Arena in September. Eighty-three weeks after he last appeared in a front-line game and 734 days after his previous senior start for the club, Rieder was a try scorer in a 50-28 home defeat.
Rieder spoke post match about a ‘demon being off his back’ after making his playing return, but he hasn’t featured in a 23-man Wasps squad since. Director of rugby Dai Young said a little over a month ago Rieder was not training due to his knee swelling up and causing ‘real problems.’
Worst fears were confirmed yesterday when Wasps officially announced Rieder’s professional rugby playing career was over.
In a statement, he said: “I’m obviously gutted that I have to retire from playing the game I love. It’s been a real rollercoaster with plenty of highs and lows over the past few years.
“I’d like to thank everyone at the club for their support throughout. I’ve made some fantastic lifelong friends and will always keep an eye on the boys’ progress in the future.
“I would like to also thank the Wasps fans who couldn’t be more passionate and welcoming, and also to my partner Victoria, family and friends, who without their support I could never have achieved my dream of playing for my dream club.”
Wasps boss Young paid tribute to the back row he signed from the Championship before selecting him 32 times for the Black and Golds. He said: “It’s a terrible shame that Alex hasn’t been able to recover from his knee injury as he is a tremendous competitor and has been great when he’s put on the Wasps shirt.
“We’d like to place on record our thanks to Alex for his services to the Club and we all wish him the best moving forward.”
I’d like to thank everyone at the club for their support throughout. I’ve made some fantastic lifelong friends. Alex Rieder