Mark Percival to retire from rugby league in 2026

Mark Percival will retire from rugby league at the end of the 2026 Super League season, closing a career spent entirely with St Helens.

The 32-year-old centre made his debut for Saints in 2013 and has racked up 273 appearances since, along with five Super League titles, four League Leaders' Shields, a Challenge Cup and a World Club Challenge. He joined the club as a 14-year-old.

Injury has shadowed his final campaign. A foot problem kept him out at the start of the season, and a hamstring injury has since restricted him to seven appearances. He is nonetheless in Saints' squad to face Leigh Leopards this weekend.

The decision follows medical advice that he undergo a shoulder replacement at the end of the year. It comes only months after Percival signed a new contract to remain at St Helens until the end of 2027.

"This has not been an easy decision, and there's a lot of emotion around it," Percival told the club website. "I love this club so much, and I want to play. I want to be out there helping the team and to be with the fans, so not being able to do that has been difficult, and it Makes this decision even harder."

"I'll be getting my shoulder replaced at the end of the year. It is what it is. Long-term it means I'll be able to pick my kids up and not deal with the symptoms I have this season, which is something I've been struggling with," he said.

Percival will leave alongside team-mate Jonny Lomax, who is also retiring at the end of the current campaign.