Exeter's hooker, Iestyn Harris, has had to end his rugby career at the age of 25 due to medical reasons.
Originally from Wales, Harris joined the Premiership club in 2022 from Cardiff Blues and made three appearances for the Chiefs.
Notably, he contributed to Exeter's victory in the 2023 Premiership Rugby Cup final.
Harris said: “I’d like to thank my family and friends for being so supportive, not just throughout this process but throughout my whole rugby career.
“A huge thank you as well to all the players and coaches I’ve worked with, at Cardiff and Exeter. I’ve made friendships at both clubs that will last me a lifetime.
“Rugby has been my life since I was a kid, so it’ll be strange not to be in the team environment anymore but I’m also excited to see what comes next as I start a new adventure away from the sport.”
A rugby fans poll has ranked sport’s five biggest d***heads
We've conducted a poll to uncover which players, through their actions on or off the field, have earned a notorious reputation in the game.
Discover the top five below.
#5. Dan Biggar (Wales)
Biggar is the epitome of players you hate until they are on your team.The way the fly-half continues to moan to referees vociferously has seemingly only got worse throughout his career. It got so bad that popular online personality and diehard Scotland fan Glove39 made a video called ‘birdman’ mocking the way in which he always raises his arms in frustration to officials.
Dan Biggar facts:
- Biggar has twice been selected to tour with the British and Irish Lions (2017 & 2021)
- On 7 December 2015, Biggar won the BBC Cymru Sports Personality of the Year Award
- Biggar came through the Ospreys development pathway, having attended Gowerton Comprehensive School in Swansea
- The fly-half has his own routine before kicking goals, which fans now call “The Biggarena” after Los Del Rio’s 1995 hit, Macarena
#4. Peter O'Mahony (Ireland)
A flanker that plays on the edge and never fails to get under the skin of opposition fans.
His late hit on Stuart Hogg and foul-mouthed war of words with the Kyle Sinckler during the 2019 Six Nations did him no favours. The sort of player you love to have, but also love to hate.
Peter O'Mahony facts:
- During his career, O'Mahony has captained Presentation Brothers College, Ireland U18, Ireland U20, Munster, Ireland and the British & Irish Lions
- O'Mahony was born in Cork, where he attended Presentation Brothers College
- The flanker captained Ireland at under-18 and under-20 levels
#3. Mike Brown (England)
In his own words, the fullback is a 'marmite player' with fans either loving or hating him. A skinhead who enjoys confrontation is not the traditional mould for an England No15.
Mike Brown facts:
- He has won three Six Nations Championship titles with England and two English Premiership titles with Harlequins
- Having mainly played football and little rugby, he initially wanted to play fly-half
- Brown was an integral part of the England team that won the RBS Six Nations Championship in 2016 and played every match in the 3–0 whitewash of Australia
- Brown married long term partner, fashion designer Eliza Scarlett Woodcock, the daughter of former England international footballer Tony Woodcock, in summer 2016
- He was selected by the general public for the 2014 RBS Six Nations player of the championship award
#2. Eben Etzebeth (South Africa)
The world Cup-winning lock is undoubtedly world-class, but he is also one of the dirtiest players in the sport.
If your team has played against him, you will not be a fan. A proper sh**house, but huge biceps.
Eben Etzebeth facts:
- Etzebeth may be 6ft 8in and more than 19st (2.03m/123kg) now but he did not dominate rugby in his early school days, leaving his growing until later in his teens
- In 2016, aged 24, Etzebeth became the youngest player to play 50 Tests for the Springboks in the game against Australia at Brisbane
- The lock was voted South African Young Player of the Year in 2012 and 2013, and was nominated for World Player of the Year in 2013 when the award was won by New Zealand’s Kieran Read.
- Etzebeth’s biceps have a circumference of 19 inches… 48.26cm.
- In 2017, Etzebeth became the 59th player to captain the Springboks in a Test match when he led the side in the match against France at Ellis Park
#1. Owen Farrell (England)
Could it be anybody else? Farrell fits the label “our guy” better than most, meaning you love to hate him unless he’s in your squad. Then you’d go to the end’s of the earth to defend him. The former England captain, also known as 'Shoulder boy' for his high tackling, does himself no favours with his poor tackling technique.
Owen Farrell facts:
- The Saracens star went to school with England teammate George Ford
- His education began in rugby league – he joined Wigan St Patricks at the age of eight
- He became the youngest ever player to appear in English professional rugby, making his debut aged 17 and 11 days. This record was later beaten by schoolmate Ford
- It’s well known that Owen is the son of Ireland head coach Andy Farrell. However, it’s less commonly know that his uncle Sean O’Loughlin is also a rugby league legend, winning 34 caps for Great Britain between 1993 and 2009
- He was not at first registered as a Farrell, but took mum Colleen’s family name of O’Loughlin. The couple married in 1995, changing Owen’s surname to Farrell the following year.
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