Time called on Short career
Exeter Chiefs lock Peter Short has confirmed his immediate retirement from the professional game due to injury.
Signed from Bath last year, the 32-year-old forward has made just seven appearances for the Chiefs.
After a promising opening to his career at Sandy Park – including helping Rob Baxter’s side defeat Leicester Tigers on the first weekend of the season – Short’s season was brought to an abrupt halt when he broke his leg in Exeter’s home win over London Wasps back in September.
It was a cruel blow for the Liverpool-born lock who had impressed alongside the likes of skipper Tom Hayes, James Hanks and Aly Muldowney in the Exeter engine-room.
Short underwent a successful operation on the injury, before working tirelessly alongside the club’s medical and conditioning staff to get himself back fully fit. Back on the park, he figured in the LV= Cup win away to London Wasps at the end of January, plus the home loss to Bath in the same competition a week later.
Sadly that would prove Short’s final outing for the Devon club, who currently lie fifth in the Aviva Premiership.
“I’ve been trying to get back, but it’s been a struggle,” said Short.
“Obviously it’s disappointing to go out this way, but it’s part and parcel of the game. I had started the season really well; I’d had a great pre-season and established myself in the team and then bang I’m injured and out for a few months.
“As a player you tend not to really think about the end, but since the injury in September it has given me time to think about the future and get a few bits and pieces in places. Luckily I’ve been working closely with the Rugby Players Association (RPA) – who have been great throughout – but at the same time you’re still working hard to get fit again and back playing.
“As hard as I’ve worked, there was still too much pain and it’s been a real struggle to get back to the same levels as I was earlier in the season.”
Although only on board at the Chiefs for a single season, Short admits he has enjoyed his time with the club and predicts the club are destined for a bright future.
“We’ve got a brilliant mix here at the Chiefs,” he added. “Coming in this year it was refreshing to have that different environment to what I was used to at my previous club. Having been here for a season now, it’s not hard to see why things are going so well.
“The ethos of the club is excellent and it’s set out right from the top through Tony [Rowe], through Rob, through the conditioners, everyone really. It’s no nonsense stuff, but for Premiership level it’s bang on and the guys just eat it up.
“As I said, I’m disappointed not to have played more of a role in all that this year, but the guys are riding high and really beginning to believe in themselves. You can almost see the juggernaut starting to move – and when it does – it will be a great ride to be on.”
Alongside his stints with both the Chiefs and Bath, Short has also run out previously for the likes of Moseley, Narbonne and Leicester Tigers.
“The game has been good to me,” he remarked. “I’ve been to a lot of different places and been in teams that have won stuff, so I will take a lot of memories with me. I particularly remember my time at Leicester when I was playing with some fantastic players at a time when they were at the top of their game.
“Also the Bath versus Leicester games, whichever side I was playing on, were always pretty special simply because of the rivalry. The derby games between Narbonne and Perpignan and Bath and Gloucester I could put up there as well, whilst going back to Leicester with Exeter this year was good as well because that was the first time I had won at Welford Road since I left.”
Saluting the contribution of Short to Exeter’s cause this season, head coach Baxter added: “To be fair to Shorty he came in and did a job for us straight from minute one. Obviously there is a reality that he hasn’t played that many first team games, but he did have a bad injury quite early in the season.
“Looking back, he had a very good game at Leicester for us and was one of those reasons why we got off to a flying start. I often say to the squad that if you spend a single minute either on that Premiership rugby pitch – or you’re one of the guys that help us prepare in training – then you’re part of the reason we are where we are right now.
“Shorty has certainly played his part and he’s been a good guy to have around the club. As we know he’s been somewhat unfortunate with injury this season and he wouldn’t have wanted his career to end this way. However, it was a severe injury which has created other issues down the line.
“We have not really been able to get him up and running fully, other than the Bath game, which ultimately proved to him and our medical staff that the time had come that he wasn’t able to really continue on.”
