Nick Mason, who has been part of Taunton RFC for his whole life, has decided to retire from playing after a career which has seen him appear in over 200 games for the first XV, writes Richard Walsh.
Nick, who publicly announced his decision just before Saturday’s home game against Loughborough Students, said: “It’s not a huge surprise as it’s been on the cards for some time.
"There was a question mark over me playing this season, but I wanted to get 200 games, and I wanted to try to get the club promoted, which unfortunately we have just missed out on.”
“I have had a few injuries this year, and I said if I had one more, then that would be me done.
"If I could just turn up on a Saturday, then I would, but the training on Tuesdays and Thursdays is relentless.
"Since I have been injured, the boys have been going really well, and it’s great to see the lads who have now taken my place playing so well, so I decided it was time to call it a day before I may have a worse injury.”
Nick has a long association with Taunton as he explained: “I started coming to the club when I was really young- about eight years old, and I’m really lucky that I have played right the way through, I’ve experienced junior rugby, the second XV and then first XV rugby.
"I have also experienced working at the club, so I’m super lucky.
"I have been involved in virtually every single part of the rugby club."
Nick talked about a couple of the high points of his playing time with the Titans.
“The win against Camborne earlier this year has to be right up there, but when we got promoted just before Covid, I was playing with a group of mates who’d just get stuck in for each other, and we travelled together to games knowing that we’d get a job done.”
Nick paid tribute to the supporters when he said: “I have played at a lot of clubs, but the support that we get at Taunton on a regular basis week in week out is up there with the best that I have witnessed anywhere.
"They are fantastic, and we are very lucky to have the following that we have got.”
Looking to the future, Nick said: “I can see that the club is in super safe hands with the younger guys coming through, and if they stick around, they are going to do a great job.”
Even though he won’t be playing, Nick is still going to be an important part of the team because he works as the commercial coordinator at Taunton RFC.
Share