Former Hawks,Scotland and Edinburgh Gunners centre Tom Philip today announces that he is taking time-out from rugby.

Philip, 22, has suffered a painful catalogue of injuries since he succumbed to serious knee damage on Scotland’s 2004 summer tour of Australasia.

He said: “I have physically recovered from the torn anterior cruciate ligament in my right knee that I suffered on the 2004 summer tour.

“But throughout the time that I’ve been trying to get better with my knee I’ve been troubled by chronic back and groin pain. Back pain is something that I’ve been accustomed to since I was 13 or 14 but the problem has worsened and knowing that I’m not fit to play is immensely depressing for me.

“I’ve made up my mind that I need to relieve the incessant pressure on me that surrounds the question of when I’d be fit to play again and that taking time out from rugby is the best solution for me.”

Tom will continue to receive physiotherapy but stresses his priority is simply to get better and that he cannot look beyond that.

Scotland head coach Frank Hadden said: “It’s very sad news, not only for Tom, but also for Scotland and Edinburgh but I respect his decision and hope he can regain good health as swiftly as possible.

“There is no point in engaging in speculation if Tom may be able to return to rugby in the future because such speculation just increases the frustration for Tom. It goes without saying that I have every sympathy for him at this very difficult time.”

TOM PHILIP (Edinburgh Gunners and Heriot’s). Centre/wing.
Born 25.6.83 in Edinburgh. 6ft, 15st. Thomas Kenneth Philip made his senior Scotland debut in the first match of the 2004 RBS 6 Nations Championship and continued as a mainstay of the senior Scotland team for the tournament but then succumbed to a serious knee injury before even playing a game on the summer tour of Australia. His previous non-capped Scotland outings saw him play in all three midweek victories in Scotland’s 2002 tour of North America. In 2003 he played in all five Scotland under-21 internationals and was inspirational in Scotland’s victory over England in the IRB under-21 World Cup. He enjoyed an outstanding IRB/FIRA Junior World Championship in Italy in March 2002 helping Scotland to fifth place, including victories over England and Wales. A product of Edinburgh Academy, he has represented both Edinburgh and Scotland at under-15, under-16, Schools, under-18 and under-19 levels. Attached to the Scottish Institute of Sport, Philip was part of the Glasgow Hawks squad that reached the 2002 BT Cellnet Cup Final. His two older brothers have both represented Scotland at age-group level, one, Colin, also going on to run the 400m for Scotland and be part of the Great Britain under-23 athletics squad.

International record: 5 caps. 2004 – W E It F I

This article was originally posted on 22-Nov-2005, 14:10 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 22-Nov-2005, 14:17.