OLDHAM RLFC is saddened to confirm that centre Cameron Leeming has taken early retirement from rugby league on medical advice.
Aged 25, it was a huge and difficult decision for Cam to make, but such is the nature of contact sport that those who play it must always be aware that it is only part of their young lives and that it would be silly to risk permanent injury.
It was the right decision and the best wishes for the future go to Cam and his family from all at the club.
He has already had loads of individual best wishes from players past and present, from club officials and from fans.
He posted on social media:
“Due to medical advice given to me regarding long-term knee injuries I’ve had to retire from rugby league earlier than planned.
“I’ve struggled with my knees for years after multiple ACL reconstructions and it’s finally taken its toll.
“It’s for the best for me and my family to stop playing the game I’ve loved playing my whole life.
“The game has given me some unbelievable memories and opportunities, taking me all over the world.
“I’m just glad I got to finish it with the best group of players I’ve played with, albeit not in the circumstances I would have liked. “Big thank-you to my family and friends who have supported me through it all. Let’s see what the future brings.”
Club chairman Chris Hamilton said:
“It’s always difficult when a comparatively young player like Cam is faced with a decision like this, but it’s obviously the right one because sportsmen and sportswomen still have most of their living to do after they’ve stopped competing.
“It goes without saying that we wish Cam and his family all the very best in whatever route life takes them. Thank-you to him too for what he’s done for the club while he’s been here.”
Head coach Matt Diskin added:
“For some time now, we’ve been helping Cam to get his head round this. In short, his body has given up on him.
“We wish him all the best for the future, he knows that, and we are always here to help if ever he needs us.”
Leeming signed for Oldham from Dewsbury Rams in 2019 and made an immediate impact from the left-centre position.
He played in ten of the 11 remaining games that season and was on the winning side nine times, mainly playing centre to Kyran Johnson.
His last two games that year were against Doncaster in the League 1 Qualifying semi-final (play-offs) and then the Play-Off Final against Newcastle Thunder, which Roughyeds won 18-14 to clinch promotion to the Championship.
With four more appearances at the start of the 2020 season, he totalled 14 games, scoring five tries.
He is the second Oldham player to retire on medical advice in the last few months, following forward Ed Smith, who was also experiencing persistent knee problems.
In addition, hooker Matty Wilkinson suffered a broken leg in prep-season training.
