Ryan Hall annouces retirement from Rugby League after 20 years

Leeds Rhinos legend Ryan Hall has announced his immediate retirement from playing rugby league after an extraordinary 20-year career.

Leeds Rhinos winger Ryan Hall has today announced his immediate retirement from playing rugby league, bringing the curtain down on a remarkable career spanning more than two decades, three clubs, over 500 appearances and more than 250 career tries.

Hall, who returned to AMT Headingley in 2024 after six seasons away from the club, will now begin the next chapter of his career with the Rhinos in a commercial role, while also preparing for a three-month testimonial which will begin in December.

“I’m officially retiring from playing Rugby League,” said Hall. “I think the time’s right that I hang up the boots. I’ve done it for 20 years and I’ve loved every minute of it.

“The club’s in a good position to go with the youth, that’s the natural progression in Rugby League. I’ve always wanted the best for the club at heart and if the decision is to go with the youth at this point in time, that suits me down to a tee because I have have had 20 years of loving every second of it, that’s enough.”

Hall made his Leeds Rhinos debut in 2007 and went on to establish himself as a key member of one of the club’s most successful teams. He won the Super League Grand Final in 2008, scored in the 2009 Grand Final victory over St Helens and was part of the Rhinos side that won the World Club Challenge against Manly in 2012.

He was also a central figure in the club’s memorable 2015 season, scoring the decisive try against Huddersfield Giants to secure the League Leaders Shield.

His individual honours include the Lance Todd Trophy after being named man of the match in Leeds’ 2014 Challenge Cup final victory over Castleford Tigers.

Hall left Leeds at the end of the 2018 season, having scored more than 200 tries for the club, before joining the Sydney Roosters in the NRL. He subsequently returned to Super League with Hull Kingston Rovers, where he continued to demonstrate his remarkable longevity and finishing ability.

He made his England debut in 2009 and went on to become one of his country’s most prolific try scorers, representing England at international level until 2018. He is the all time leading try scoring for England. 

“Representing your country is the pinnacle of what your career should be,” said Hall. “You’re playing and representing everyone who’s played rugby in the country and lives in the country.”

Across his career, Hall has amassed 540 appearances and sits joint 17th on the all-time rugby league scoring list, alongside the legendary Neil Fox.

Hall’s final appearance as a player came at AMT Headingley, allowing him to bring his playing career full circle in front of the Leeds supporters who had watched his journey from the beginning.

“I said at the time it would be a dream come true to go full circle and finish off in front of a Leeds crowd, which I’m lucky enough to have been able to do,” he said. “Not everybody gets that option to finish how they want to do it. I know we could have finished with a trophy in our hands, but that wasn’t to be. But I’m certainly over the moon that I got to finish here at AMT Headingley in front of the crowd that supported me for over 20 years.”

Hall will remain part of the Rhinos family through his commercial role, working with supporters, partners and guests around match days and representing the club.

Hall will also celebrate his remarkable career with a three-month testimonial beginning in December, including a testimonial fixture against Hull FC in January.

The former England international is expected to make a brief cameo appearance in the game, giving supporters the opportunity to see him pull on the boots one final time.

“I will feature in that game,” he said. “It won’t be massive amounts. That game has got to be a stepping stone to get the players ready who are going to take to the field in Round One of the Super League.

“But I will be making a small cameo appearance in that game, which it would be nice to put the boots on for one final time.”

Leeds Rhinos Sporting Director Ian Blease added, “On behalf of everyone at the Rhinos, I would like to thank Ryan for everything he has done for the club. He has been a complete professional and set the standards for our young players to follow. He has always put the team first and has enjoyed a career that has rightly seen him recognised as one of the greatest players in the summer era. I am delighted he will still be connected to the club in the next chapter of his career.”

Head Coach Brad Arthur added, “I am pleased to have had the honour to work with Ryan over the last couple of years. He has performed at the very highest level for his club and country and he leaves the field on his terms, having maintained his presence for 20 years; that is a remarkable achievement. It is testament to the man that he is happy to walk away without a huge fanfare but I am sure with the satisfaction of a job well done.”