According to Elton John, ‘sorry seems to be the hardest word’ but I have to take the legendary musician and composer to task on this occasion.

For me, without doubt the word that seems to be the hardest is Goodbye.

Whichever way you try to take the sting out of it, whether that be with a farewell, a see you soon, or any other platitude, it doesn’t take away from the fact that something is coming to an end. In this rugby case, something, and someone very special indeed.

This afternoon Leanne Infante, the artist formerly known as Riley, called time on her professional rugby career in what was her 100th game for Saracens with a resounding victory against reigning Women’s Premiership champions Gloucester-Hartbury.

Even when the difficult decision is made on your own terms, as is the case with Leanne, it doesn’t necessarily make it any easier.

But over a wonderful career at the top, she always did things on her own terms, and her decision to retire was no different.

Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming, and Leanne worked tirelessly to achieve that, whilst also helping those around her to achieve their best. Any fly half she has ever played with will testify.

I don’t think Leanne will ever realise just how good a player she was, or indeed how popular she was with team mates, fans, and journalists alike, only because that does not fit in with the humble way in which she operates.

As a Red Rose, she was often the pick of the bunch, a hardy perennial that bloomed season after season and never failed to brighten up the green fields she inhabited.

It has been my pleasure and privilege to follow Leanne’s career at close quarters. I’ve seen her mature and develop on and off the field, both as a player and person, the results have been pretty impressive.

As in the words of Rudyard Kiplings famous poem ‘If’ she has met with Triumph and Disaster and treated those two impostors just the same. 

She has kept close council when things have not gone her way, frequently through no fault of her own, and chosen instead to do her talking on the field.

We are all in this wonderful game for a relatively short time. And to be able to have a career where you have maintained and upheld the values and the spirit of rugby is as big an achievement as all the trophies, titles and championships won, Leanne can be justifiably proud.

Rugby, and in particular the women’s game, will be all the better for her legacy, those following in her wake will find their paths that little bit smoother, thanks to her and her generation.

Leanne did everything on her own terms during a long club and international career, so it comes as no surprise that when it came to the agonising moment of dealing with sporting retirement, she had the strength of character. She also had the wisdom to make that difficult decision.

Having achieved the CIl Level 4 Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning, Leanne is a fully qualified Financial Adviser authorised by the FCA. She is also a qualified member of the Personal Finance Society, working with the prestigious Quilter group. So whilst our rugby days may not shine quite so brightly, our pension pots will almost certainly be booming. 

Thank you, Leanne, for all the memories, you will be missed.