Queensland Reds youth Mason Gordon announced his shocking retirement at the age of 22, writing an open letter describing his decision due to ongoing concussion symptoms.
Gordon, a brother of the Gold Coast Titans and a brother of former Wallabies fly half Carter Gordon, joined the Reds mid-year last year after the end of Melbourne’s Rebels.
He played in a tour match against Wales in Queensland, then toured Tonga as part of the development squad, and later headed north with the Reds for a preseason match against Bristol and Ulster.
However, a head knock in his training in Brisbane restricted him from making his first Super Rugby Pacific look along with Red, and in the end he was forced to hang his boots forever.
“After maintaining a concussion during preseason training with symptoms and a concussion, with the assistance of medical advice, I made the difficult decision to retire from rugby for medical reasons,” Gordon wrote.
“This didn’t anticipate how or when my career would end after I signed a contract with Queensland Reds in October 2024 and then made my Super Rugby debut for Melbourne’s Rebels.
“This is an unfortunate injury, but I am grateful for the memories of my professional rugby career and cherish the friendship I have made forever.
“We would like to thank all the medical staff who have been involved in this process, especially Carldenville (Medical Director) and Neil Stevenson (Team Doctor) of Queensland Reds.
“We would also like to thank the Queensland Reds organization as a whole, especially Les Kiss and Sam Koldingley.
Mason now wins a deal with the Reds while Carter Gordon chose the code switch following the rebel exit. And he did exactly that, making an impression enough to win a 2025 contract and played under Wallabies Coach Electrectres Kiss.
But while his future is now far from rugby, he says he remains a sharp supporter of the Reds.
“It’s a special memory to have the opportunity to debut my Reds against the Welsh national team along with my lifelong companion, Louis Vercon, just as I had the opportunity to tour Tonga, Japan and the UK as Queensland Red. My short time with the Reds was fun.
“I would like to thank Brisbane Boys College, West’s Bulldog Ragby Club and Melbourne’s Rebels for encouraging my love for the game and giving them the opportunity to play professional rugby.
“Finally, I would like to thank my parents for their continued support and support in making this decision.
“Concussions are a topic of interest in global sports and I understand that people may be interested in talking to me about what I have experienced, but I request that the media respect my privacy and my ongoing challenges.
“I am grateful to be able to continue my research. I have a Bachelor’s degree in QUT and am studying Property Economics. I am excited about the next chapter and would like to thank all my friends and family who have supported me both on and off the field.”
Meanwhile, Carter Gordon is on the sidelines with a serious back injury, preventing the NRL from making his debut.