Leicester Tigers have confirmed that 23-year-old hooker Finn Theobald-Thomas has been forced to retire from rugby with immediate effect on medical grounds.
Theobald-Thomas joined Tigers ahead of the 2023-24 season and made 33 appearances for the club during his time at Welford Road.
The Rugby Players Association and Leicester Tigers will continue to support the former England youth international as he begins the transition into retirement.
He represented England U20s in the 2022 and 2023 Six Nations Under-20s Championships, before also featuring at the 2023 World Rugby U20 Championship.
Born in Wolverhampton, Theobald-Thomas came through the Worcester Warriors academy before making his senior debut in 2021 in the Premiership Rugby Cup against Bristol Bears.
After several loan spells away from Sixways, he joined Gloucester in 2022 following Worcester's collapse. He made just one appearance for the Cherry and Whites and also spent time on loan with Chinnor.
The hooker then joined Leicester in 2023, making his Tigers debut in the Premiership Rugby Cup against Bedford Blues.
Last season, he made 19 appearances for Leicester and Nottingham combined, but had not played since March after suffering an injury.
Tigers head coach Geoff Parling said: "I’m gutted with this news of Finn’s retirement from rugby, both from a team point of view and for him personally to have such a promising rugby journey cut short."
"He is a loveable bloke who is exactly the type of character you’d want to be around, unselfish and fully invested in the team. We’ll miss him and he knows that he’ll always be part of this team."
Tigers have not revealed the medical issue which has forced Theobald-Thomas to call time on his career at such a young age.
Further details may emerge in due course, but RUCK wishes Finn all the very best for the next chapter of his life.
