Ryan Hall annouces retirement from Rugby League after 20 years

England's record try-scorer Ryan Hall has announced his immediate retirement from playing rugby league at the age of 38. 

 

The prolific Leeds Rhinos winger brings down the curtain on a remarkable career spanning more than two decades, three clubs, over 500 appearances and 358 tries. 

 

Hall, who made his debut for hometown Leeds at Magic Weekend in 2007, also starred for his country, finishing with 39 tries in 40 Test matches while also playing for Great Britain twice. 

 

He won six Super League Grand Finals with Rhinos – and featured in another with Hull KR in 2024 – often providing thrilling moments on the biggest stage at Old Trafford. 

 

Hall is perhaps most famous for scoring the last-gasp, decisive try against Huddersfield Giants to secure the League Leaders Shield on a dramatic night in 2015 – the first part of Leeds' memorable Treble-winning campaign. 

 

A robust and hard-running wideman with superb finishing skills, he won the Lance Todd Trophy after being named man of the match in Leeds’ 2014 Challenge Cup final victory over Castleford Tigers and also played at Wembley the following year when they defeated Hull KR in a record-breaking 50-0 win. 

 

Hall, who returned to AMT Headingley in 2024 after six seasons away with Sydney Roosters and Hull KR, will now take up a commercial role with Rhinos, while also preparing for a three-month testimonial which will begin in December. 

 

He eclipsed former Leeds team-mate Danny McGuire as Super League's greatest-ever try-scorer when playing for Hull KR in 2024, taking his tally to 248 tries, although Leigh Leopards' Josh Charnley went past him earlier this season and he finished his decorated career on 275. 

 

Hall's try against Warrington Wolves in the Super League semi-final last month – what became his last game - saw him end on 358 career tries, drawing level with the legendary Neil Fox in joint 17th place in the list of all-time scorers in the British game. 

 

Hall, who also won the 2012 World Club Challenge with Leeds against NRL premiers Manly, said: “I’m officially retiring from playing Rugby League. 

 

"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 had 20 years of loving every second of it, that’s enough." 

 

He added: “Representing your country is the pinnacle of what your career should be. 

 

"You’re playing and representing everyone who’s played rugby in the country and lives in the country.” 

 

On his Leeds career, where he scored 257 tries in 381 games, he said: “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. 

“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.” 

 

He is expected to make a brief cameo appearance in his testimonial against Hull FC in January. 

 

Hall, who earned legendary status for his powerful presence on the field, said: “I will feature in that game. 

 

"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.”