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Amos determined to finish on a high

First Team News | 18th October 2021


Hallam Amos is determined to sign off in style after announcing his intention to retire at the end of the 2021/22 season.

The Cardiff and Wales full back will hang up his boots at the end of the campaign to focus on a career in medicine, but insists he still has unfinished business.

The 25-times capped international is delighted that his final season in professional rugby will be played out in front of supporters and he's confident there is an exciting future ahead at Cardiff Arms Park.

The 27 year old explained: "I’m very committed to what we’ve got left. You always want to finish on a high and we’re building something great here.

"The coaching environment and the players we have is fantastic.

"There’s also boys like Thomas Young coming in next year, and I’ve been involved in international campaigns with him and he’s a fantastic player.

"The future looks very bright for Cardiff and over the next six months I want to enjoy it as much as I can. I want to put some good performances out on the pitch to finish on a high. 

"It’s nice to have the pressure of keeping it to myself off my chest and now I can focus on finishing on a good note.

"It’s fantastic to be back in front of crowds. It makes such a difference.

"Rugby struggles a bit without crowds, but feeling the vibe at the Arms Park on a Friday or Saturday is fantastic.

"It makes it so much more enjoyable for everyone involved and it’s been great this season.

"That’s what I’ll miss the most is that buzz when you’re running out in the stadium.

"You come through the smoke and hear thousands of people chanting for your team. It’s something you can’t really replicate in other areas of life.

"So it’s great that the crowds are back in for my last season and I can enjoy that for another few months."

Amos made his professional debut for Dragons as a 16 year old, and went on to make his international bow as a 19 year old against Tonga in 2013.

 

Explaining his reasoning behind the decision to retire, the full back added: "I will be graduating from medical school in June next year. It’s been a long road and taken me nine years to get the degree.

"And now I’m ready for a bit of a change. Rugby has been great and this is my eleventh season of professional rugby.

"I’ve enjoyed it a lot and I’m really enjoying it here at Cardiff at the moment. But as I say, I’m ready for a change - I’ve done my exams now and I’m ready to progress from medical school.

"It’s time for me to be a junior doctor in the real world, and that’s my thinking.

"I’ve experienced a lot in rugby, and I’ve been fortunate to go to a couple of World Cups, Commonwealth Games and played in Six Nations et cetera. I’ve had a lot of fun in the regional game as well.

"I’m ready to move into the real world, and a lot of your career in medicine, particularly the junior years, is very hard. I want do them while I’m still a young man, before the responsibility of kids and bits and bobs like that comes along.

"I also want to experience a different environment as a young man. Hopefully I can move away for a little bit, and doing that in my late twenties rather than thirties is on the forefront of my mind. I’m ready for something new.

"It’s a bit unusual, I only turned 27 a couple of weeks ago so I’m younger than a lot of boys would be in coming to this decision.

"It’s always been a part of my thinking. Being a doctor is what I want to do longer term. I’ve got medics in my family and both my parents still really enjoy their jobs.

"So thinking longer term, it’s definitely what I want to be doing. When you take a step back and think about it, it definitely makes sense.

"There’s always more you want to achieve in every facet of life but I’m very happy with what I’ve been able to do so far.

"From a personal point of view, I wanted to be able to tell Dai, Cardiff and Wayne from WRU early.

"From a regional point-of-view, they can find my replacement and know in terms of that budget next year.

"For Wales, they’re able to build towards the next World Cup and know which boys will be around.

"That sat a bit better with me so I wanted to tell them towards the beginning of the season so they can build for the future.

"I’ve always had both facets of my life, enjoying both academics and the sport. When I started playing for Dragons, I was still in school in sixth form and my plan was to go into medicine.

"I’ve been lucky enough to do that and Cardiff University have been fantastic in letting me do the degree part time.

"Dragons, Cardiff and WRU have always been great in allowing my to do both. They’ve ensured I can have days off when I need to sit exams or go to placements I couldn’t miss.

"It’s been a great ride and it will be sad to finish, definitely, and leave what is a pretty good life.

"But at some stage everyone has to grow up and maybe I’m making this decision six or seven years earlier than a lot of boys would.

"But I’m very comfortable with that decision now."