Allan Bateman finished his autobiography with a flourish, signing off by declaring his intention to continue playing and asking the pertinent question about why he should be judged by his age rather than his performance.
The master midfield craftsman was 36, then, and still playing for Wales.
“The Quinnell brothers and Barry Williams never stopped ribbing me in our Richmond days about my age — but that other Batman is still playing on television some 36 years after the first series came out, and the Caped Crusader does not look any older now than he did then,” wrote Bateman in his book There and Back Again, published in 2001.
“Here’s to flying long and high.”
It isn’t altogether clear Bateman definitively packed in as a player.
Certainly those who attended James Hook’s testimonial game in June could have been forgiven for having their doubts after seeing him come up with a moment of skill worth the admission money on its own, with Bateman delaying a pass long enough to put another old master, Shane Williams, through for a try.
Let’s work on the assumption, though, that good things must come to an end at some point for those in competitive sport. In that respect, 2022 has seen a number of well-known names depart the Welsh rugby playing arena, the latest being Cory Allen, who finally conceded there was to be no way back from the catastrophic knee injury he suffered playing for the Ospreys against Ulster in 2019.
No-one could have tried harder to return. The centre who scored a hat-trick of tries for Wales against Uruguay at the 2015 World Cup couldn’t run for almost 600 days after his injury, but he eventually got there. Further rehabilitation followed with the Dragons which helped him deal with the pain he had been experiencing. There were countless meetings with specialists along the way.
But, ultimately, Rodney Parade regulars were not to see the long-striding and quick midfield man feature in their colours, with Allen this week calling time on his bid to play again.
He wasn't the only Wales international exiting in 2022.
Richard Hibbard left the scene in January, declaring: “Unfortunately, my body has finally said enough is enough. What a ride it’s been. I’ve been lucky enough to do everything I’ve wanted, and more, in this great game."
What you saw is what you got from Port Talbot's finest, from Hibbard once inadvertently turning the air blue during a live radio interview to the combative hooker taking on two 20st South African props in a scrap during a Test in Bloemfontein in 2008.
Hibbard feared he’d displeased Warren Gatland by getting involved. He was wrong.
Instead of sanctioning him, the New Zealander upgraded Hibbard from replacement to starter for the second Test of that series. You can read more here about the moment Hibbard wrestled and punched two Springbok props to earn Gatland's respect.
Hibbard was always disarmingly honest in his dealings with the media and helpful with it, a blast of old-school bonhomie that reporters appreciated. Fans cheered him, too, albeit not as fervently as the Gloucester supporter who had his image tattooed on her leg during his stay at Kingsholm between 2014 and 2018.
His career had reached a high with the Lions in Australia in 2013 but he gave everything for his teams until bowing out at the age of 38. He now owns The Hideout Cafe in Aberafan Shopping Centre and The Front bar and Kitchen on Aberavon beach.
While Hibbard went the distance in his playing career, there was a premature end for James Davies, with one of Welsh rugby’s biggest characters bowing out amid concussion issues at the age of 31.
As with Cory Allen, ‘Cubby Boi’ could not have done any more to prolong his career. But the problems the fans' favourite and cult idol faced were horrendous.
In an interview after he finished, the freakishly gifted turnover specialist said: "The first six months were pretty much just a migraine the whole time. I'd come in because the specialists would say it was important to keep busy, keep training. But initially I was doing just 10 minute spins on a bike and I'd have to get off because I was feeling dizzy, unwell, my head would be throbbing.
"I'd be driving home just worried if I'm going to get home because my head was over the shop. I was getting neck pain, my visuals were off, the symptoms you can have through concussion. I probably had the lot." If all that's not reason to finish, then nothing is.
Charismatic off the field and outstanding on it, Davies left in the knowledge he’d created a store of memories.
He returned to the Scarlets in August as their new recruitment and operations officer.
Another who left us wanting more on the field was Hallam Amos, who finished at the end of the season to pursue a career as a doctor. The then Cardiff player had been working on a placement in hospital when his rugby retirement statement was put out, with his phone switched off. “When I got home a few hours later the messages were incredible,” he later said. “Everybody was just overwhelmingly positive. It’s been nice what everyone has said.”
It should have been no surprise, though, with Amos well-thought of by pretty much all who know him. Injuries punctuated his career, but the full-back or wing was a class act good enough to win 25 caps for Wales. His call to finish at the age of 27 was doubtless a good one for his long-term career but Welsh rugby has missed him.
Another medical man also decided enough was enough.
Jamie Roberts had pretty much squeezed all there was to squeeze from the rugby orange. There were Six Nations titles, Grand Slams, the captaincy of his country and stints in Wales, England, France, South Africa and Australia. He played in a Varsity match for Cambridge University, won awards and picked up medals as a winner in Europe.
He’ll be remembered as one of the central figures of the Warren Gatland era with his immense power and ability to cross the gain-line.
After he announced his retirement as a player, tributes duly poured in, led by his old Wales and Cardiff team-mate Sam Warburton, who said: “A guy you’d definitely want in your corner. Massive congrats Doc.”
Roberts has since proven a sharp and articular pundit who tells it as it is, without fear or favour. Recently it emerged he was one of the names in contention to become the new general secretary of the Rugby Players Association in England. Whatever he does long term, the suspicion is he’ll do well.
Also moving on to different things were Cardiff Rugby pair Rhys Gill and Scott Andrews, Wales internationals.
Gill experienced concussion problems towards the end of his playing days and wisely made the call to pack in. He is tending two thriving businesses — a flooring shop and a van hire company — while 14-cap tighthead Andrews retired after 13 seasons with Cardiff to concentrate on coaching with a position in the club’s pathway and academy.
It was the end of the road, too, for Greg Bateman, another member of the front-row union. He finished at the Dragons at the end of last term to focus on his People’s Captain brewing business.
His playing career ended amid injuries.
We wish him well and others mentioned here, too, as they pursue their new chapters.
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