Mark Atkinson: Gloucester centre retires because of long-term knee injury

Gloucester centre Mark Atkinson is to retire from rugby union with immediate effect because of a persistent knee injury.

The 34-year-old club stalwart made 170 appearances for the Cherry and Whites after joining the club in 2014 .

However, his playing time has been limited since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in October 2022.

"My knee's made the decision for me. My knee and the specialists said enough," Atkinson said.

"It's been two surgeries, a number of injections, drains and all the rest of it. You get to the stage after 18 months where you're fighting a losing battle, trying to get it right for a Saturday.

"It's probably the repeat effort of going Saturday, training Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday that I've struggled with the most."

Atkinson, who won one cap for England in 2021, returned to the field at the start of this season after missing almost all of the 2022-23 campaign. He was awarded a testimonial year last autumn.

But he has featured in only four Premiership games, with the last on 2 December.

"It's a strange one to explain. I'm clearly very emotional in a number of ways and sadness is probably the overall feeling. Sadness to be leaving the playing department, sadness to not be getting another chance to run out here and do what I've loved doing," he told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

Atkinson, who told his team-mates the news last week, said the knee injury still constantly bothers him, although surgeons have said it "does get better over time".

"It came as no surprise to some team-mates, they know that it's been like that," Atkinson said.

"It's just getting my head around leaving what you've known since you left school 15 years ago, and trying to find something new that you might be half-decent at."

Atkinson joined Gloucester from Championship side Bedford and considered himself a "late bloomer", coming to the Premiership while in his 20s.

He won his sole England cap as a replacement in the Autumn Nations Cup against Tonga, remaining among the training squad before his injury.

Atkinson said the timing of his injury will "niggle" him for some time.

"I'd not long turned 32 and I was still in the England squad when my knee happened. That's something that will sit with me," he said.

"I'll sit there and think about the injury and the timing, because I was a bit of a late bloomer and still felt I had all those years to come.

"I think I've realised you've got to be grateful for the time you had and the moments, and the people."

The number 12 will be staying at Kingsholm, albeit in a different capacity, continuing his recent work with Gloucester's commercial and marketing teams, as well as taking up punditry.

"[I'll] push forward with this commercial role at the club and, alongside it, as much microphone work as possible," he added.