Abby Dow, England Rugby World Cup Winner, Retires at 28 to Pursue Mechanical Engineering

England's World Cup-winning winger Abby Dow has revealed she is retiring from rugby at the age of 28 to pursue a new direction in mechanical engineering.

In an exclusive chat with INLIBER Sport, Dow explained that while another World Cup appearance or a Lions tour would have been possible, she is ready to embrace different opportunities and a new career path.

Career highlights

Since making her England debut in 2017, Dow tallied 50 tries in 59 caps, a scoring record she cherishes. She captains seven Six Nations titles, including six Grand Slams, and celebrated a home World Cup triumph with a 33-13 win over Canada.

Dow's impact extended beyond the field. Her off-field personalities—crochet projects, playful puns, and costume moments—made her a fan favorite and helped broaden the sport's appeal.

Off-field moments and community

During the 2025 World Cup, supporters embraced a crochet-inspired theme as part of a broader community initiative. Dow praised the Women's Institute and fans who showed how sport and other passions can intersect in powerful ways, challenging stereotypes about women in sport.

Next chapter: engineering ahead

Dow plans to step away from professional rugby and return to the field of mechanical engineering, a discipline she studied at Imperial College London, graduating in 2020. While she has no job lined up yet, she is in discussions with several companies, with a strong interest in high-performance automotive engineering and pushing technological boundaries.

She also emphasised she does not see this as a final goodbye to the sport; rather, she aims to explore rugby in a new light—through volunteering, watching, and possibly returning in some capacity in the future.

Key takeaways

• Dow retires from rugby at 28 to pursue engineering.
• She leaves with 50 tries in 59 caps and a World Cup title on home soil.
• Her story highlights the growing emphasis on athletes transitioning to new careers after sport.
• She balanced academics with elite sport, serving as an inspiration for dual-career athletes.

Expert comment

Expert view: Dr. Maya Chen, sports transition analyst, says Dow's decision reflects a broader trend of planned career moves among elite athletes, helping to sustain performance and well-being post-retirement.

Summary

Abby Dow's retirement marks the end of a remarkable era in English rugby, capped by a World Cup triumph and a prolific try-scoring record. Her move into mechanical engineering demonstrates a thoughtful approach to life after sport, balancing ambition with education. While fans may miss her on the field, her journey offers a blueprint for future generations seeking to combine sport with a second career.

Dow's retirement underscores that peak athletes can reinvent themselves, merging elite performance with a pursuit in engineering. BBC Sport.