Former Super League and Welsh international duo announce retirement

Two Welsh internationals and former Super League players will hang up their boots at the end of the season, with the pair making over 500 career appearances between them.

Rhodri Lloyd and Ben Evans have both made the decision to retire, bringing an end to their respective 15 and 12-year careers spanning across all three divisions.

Lloyd made his senior debut for Wigan Warriors in 2011 for South Wales Scorpions, before being given a Super League opportunity at Wigan Warriors in 2012. He would go on to make seven appearances for the Warriors across four seasons, before joining Swinton Lions in 2016.

That would be where he spent the majority of his career, playing over 180 times for the Blue and Whites across both the Championship and League 1.

He moved to Widnes Vikings ahead of the 2024 season, making the move alongside coach Allan Coleman. He has represented the Vikings over 50 times in his two stints at the club, the first being a loan move as a youngster at Wigan, and has scored 13 tries.

Meanwhile, Evans is the brother of former Warrington and Leeds centre Rhys, and has spent the last two years at the North Wales Crusaders. On loan from the Wolves, he made his senior debut at Bradford Bulls in 2013, where he spent a season-long loan.

He was given his Super League opportunity in 2014, and became a regular under Tony Smith in that season. Lack of game time in the seasons thereafter meant he would move to London Broncos in 2017, before switching to Toulouse and returning to Bradford.

In 2023, he moved to Barrow Raiders for a season, before moving back to his home country to join North Wales. Evans has been part of the title-winning Crusaders side, however injuries have limited him to just two matches this campaign.

Former Super League man hoping to end career with final international appearance

The pair have been teammates for Wales on 11 occasions, including in the 2013, 2017 and 2022 World Cups. Wales have two international matches lined up against Ireland this autumn, and whilst Lloyd has confirmed he won’t feature in those matches, Evans is hoping he can make his final rugby league appearance in a Welsh jersey.

Commenting on his retirement, Lloyd said: “I’ve made the decision to hang up the boots after 15 years. Obviously, I’ve played a lot of that period part-time, and I just felt it was becoming more difficult to balance things between work and rugby.

“I work as a teacher, so trying to juggle work commitments and parents’ evenings whilst trying to make it to training was quite tough. “Another big reason for the decision is that I’ve got a second baby on the way, and with all our family being back home in Wales, we don’t have the support network up here to help us.

On representing his country, he added: “To have played in three World Cups is something I’ll always be proud of. Scoring at the Millennium Stadium in 2013 was a fantastic feeling, and I feel incredibly privileged to be the youngest ever player to play for Wales. Getting to play in Super League for Widnes, Wigan, and London (is a career highlight). To have been able to play at the pinnacle was fantastic.

Evans, meanwhile, announced his retirement via Instagram, and said: “Absolutely blessed to have a career in Rugby League and to be paid to play rugby for 17 years, man has it flown by.

“I would like to thank everyone at Warrington who gave me my chance, from Peter Farrell right through to Tony Smith. To John Kear and everyone at Wales RL & every other coach I’ve had, thank you! To my Mum, thank you for believing in us & giving us the opportunity to follow our dreams and answer the “what if”.

“I would also like to thank all my team mates! Some have become life long friends all through rugby. Hopefully I’ll get to finish how I started, in the Welsh jersey”.