Richard Beck announces retirement

Yorkshire Carnegie’s longest serving player, Richard Beck, has announced his immediate retirement from the game on medical grounds.

Beck will continue to work within the club’s backroom team with the Championship squad coaching staff as well as assisting the Yorkshire Carnegie Academy and Community programmes.

Talking about his decision Beck said, “I took some time out over Christmas to make the decision and the thought of a fourth operation on my shoulder with the hope that it would not happen again was something that made up my mind. I have been privileged to play my whole career at my home town club and I am very proud of everything we have achieved over the last decade.
 
“I am looking forward to the next chapter of my career and doing everything I can to help my club achieve their ambitions in the seasons ahead,” added Beck.
 
Beck made his debut in the 2009-10 season in LV= Cup game against Leicester Tigers when a young Carnegie side secured a memorable 28-17 victory and then retained his place for the following Cup game against Sale, coming on from the bench in the 24-17 defeat. He also played for Harrogate as well as Otley over the season.
 
In the 2010-11 season he once again joined up with Otley on loan, where he gained valuable experience, making 20 appearances.  He returned to Carnegie to feature against Leicester Tigers and Sale Sharks. In 2011 Richard completed his university studies in Economics and Politics, earning a 2:1 honours degree from Leeds University.

 
The Greene King IPA Championship forward made his debut for his home town club back in November 2009 against Leicester and has spent his entire career at Yorkshire Carnegie.
 
He is one of only nine players to have played over 100 league games for the club having first joined the Academy back in 2006. In total he has made 132 appearances for Yorkshire Carnegie in all competitions, scoring 14 tries.