'I love playing for England' - Joe Launchbury rules out international retirement but focused on Harlequins

Joe Launchbury insists that he is not ready to retire from international rugby, admitting that playing for England has been "the proudest part" of his career.

Launchbury joined Japanese side Toyota Verblitz in 2022 after he was made redundant by his former club Wasps when they entered administration.

The second-row returned to the United Kingdom in the summer, signing a multi-year deal with Harlequins, and was set to play a part in England’s Rugby World Cup warm-ups, but a hamstring injury ruled out any hope of receiving a place in Steve Borthwick’s squad for the tournament.

The 32-year-old, who has been capped 65 times for England and was part of the 2019 World Cup squad in Japan, has not featured for his national team since the 2022 Six Nations.

But having returned to the UK to play for Quins, Launchbury admitted he was eager to return to the fold next year.

“I spoke to Steve [Borthwick] a lot during my time in Japan and on my return from Japan, and I was going to be involved in the initial World Cup camp but I got injured,” Launchbury said, according to the Evening Standard. “I have not really spoken to him much since then, he has obviously had a busy time.

“I don’t think I am going to sit here and retire from international rugby because I don’t feel that is something I need to do. I haven’t had a huge involvement over the last period of time so it is not something I need to do.

“I love playing for England, it is the proudest part of my rugby career and I don’t think I would turn down an opportunity to play but I am aware of where I am.”

Borthwick’s side were narrowly beaten in the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup by South Africa three weeks ago.

It will be the start of a new beginning for England, with several stars set to retire from international rugby.

Courtney Lawes, Ben Youngs and Jonny May have announced they will be hanging up their boots.

Meanwhile, England have some exciting young talents coming through the ranks, and Launchbury admitted that the end of this World Cup cycle would present a great opportunity for Borthwick.

“The situation England are in, it is the end of a World Cup cycle and is probably a good opportunity for them,” he added.

“They had a great achievement in the World Cup to get where they got to and that has probably allowed Steve an element of freedom in his selection.

“It allows him a period to maybe go down a slightly younger route and as an England supporter that is probably what you would understand him to do.”

But he doubled down on his desire to stake a claim for a spot in England’s pack, stating: “I am not going to sit here and retire from international rugby, but I am not sitting here waiting for the phone to ring.

“I am here to play for Harlequins and I am loving the balance of playing here and being back in England with my family.”

Launchbury played in the Harlequins academy before moving to Worthing in 2009 and then to Wasps in 2010.

He was one of 167 employees who were released by the club after Wasps Holdings Limited went into administration.

Launchbury spoke of his gratitude to still be playing professionally, before admitting that he was happy with what he had achieved during his playing career.

“Where I am sitting now I can honestly I say I am pretty happy with everything I have achieved,” he said.

“So I am extremely grateful to be here and I’m intent on repaying that.

“Billy Millard talks quite a lot about gratitude here, and for some of the younger players that might fly over their head a bit but for me at the moment that really carries some weight.

“I have got a huge amount of gratitude to be here and still be playing rugby and still in a job after everything that has happened.”

- - -

TNT Sports presents the premium live sports rights previously carried by BT Sport including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, MotoGP, Cricket, UFC, Boxing and WWE. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination. You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.