Known for his blistering speed and agility, 30-year-old Watson's career has been nothing short of spectacular, particularly in the Guinness Men's Six Nations. The Surrey-born back has been forced to retire on medical grounds.
Watson made his Six Nations debut in 2015 and quickly became a key player for England. He was instrumental in England's Grand Slam victory in 2016 and played a crucial role in the 2017 and 2020 Six Nations Championship-winning teams.
His standout performances include scoring a try and being named player of the match in England's thrilling 23-20 victory over France in 2021
Over his career, Watson earned 56 caps for England and represented his country in two Rugby World Cups (2015 and 2019) and two British & Irish Lions tours (2017 and 2021)
His journey began with London Irish, followed by a significant stint at Bath Rugby, and concluded with Leicester Tigers, whom he told: "When I started out, I wanted to make my Dad proud, play for England and the Lions with my parents in the crowd, and share a moment with my children on the field. I can say I’ve done all those things."
In announcing his retirement via England Rugby, Watson expressed immense pride in his career: "To be able to play for England 56 times is a dream come true."
In an August 2024 interview with the Guardian, Watson discussed the impact of his injuries: “Calling it a blessing in disguise is bang on. It’s definitely changed my perspective. I learned so much through the achilles rupture and the ACL. I would change some of the long-term effects they have but I wouldn’t change how much I learned through that time. Appreciating how good it is to do what you do and how much you rely on it for a sense of happiness. You find a different motivation you didn’t know existed.”
