Former Harlequins and England star Ugo Monye has urged former rugby players to consider a groundbreaking, non-invasive knee treatment instead of surgery.

The 42-year-old media personality struggled with post-retirement knee pain for many years, causing him difficulty with even the simplest of tasks.

“I had gone from playing elite-level rugby to then struggling to walk up and down the stairs and feeling older than what I actually am,” he recalled.

Admitting that he was in “chronic pain”, he was offered a knee replacement, which, for a 41-year-old at the time, felt “quite significant.”

“I just thought there must be something intermediary between chronic pain and surgery,” he stated. “Surely there has to be something simpler?”

Arthrosamid®

That’s when he found Arthrosamid®, an innovative, non-biodegradable, injectable hydrogel designed to treat knee osteoarthritis.1, 2

“It felt like a good immediate solution,” said Monye after speaking to Citius Health founder, Dr George Bownes FFSEM.

“If it’s the option between a knee replacement or a potential injection into my knee, I absolutely know where I was going to lean with it.”

This game‑changing injection integrates with the knee’s synovial tissue, helping restore elasticity and delivering a significant, long‑lasting reduction in osteoarthritis pain — with proven relief lasting up to five years after a single treatment. 3,4,5,6

Dr Bownes said: “The best knee you have is the one you’re born with, and you want to keep that one going as long as you can.”

Supported by more than two decades of research, the application of Arthrosamid® is a simple, one-step procedure performed under local anaesthesia by a qualified physician.1,2

“I trust the science behind what George was selling to me, and I couldn’t be any happier that I went for that because a new replacement is so drastic.”

Why choose Arthrosamid®

Many former sportspeople suffer from chronic knee pain, whether they were elite-level or otherwise; osteoarthritis doesn’t discriminate.

That’s why solutions have been researched heavily, and there are plenty of options available, but Dr George Bownes FFSEM believes that Arthrosamid® is the most efficient short-term solution.

“Arthrosamid® isn’t the first type of injection, so people often have had steroids, which last for a few weeks, hyaluronic acid, which could last for a few months, PRP, which might last a bit longer than that.”

Arthrosamid® is simple and longer lasting than the other options, providing a cost-effective treatment that will allow the patient to be relieved of their chronic pain.

For those struggling with debilitating knee pain, this could well be the solution.

“I was still slightly sceptical because the condition my knee was in was severe and I thought it would be able to relieve the pain,” explained the former rugby star, admitting, “I didn’t think it would be as long-lasting.”

Find out more about Arthrosamid® at https://arthrosamid.com/planet-rugby!

References:

1 – Arthrosamid®, Instructions For Use. Release Date March 2022. 10082-003.

2 – Arthrosamid®, Instructions For Use. Release Date October 2025. 10117-001.

3 – Christensen, L., et al. (2016). Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. Vol 24(11):1999-2002.

4 – Wimmer, M. A., et al. 18th ICRS World Congress, Boston, 11-14 October (2025).

5 – Henriksen, M. (2026). 5‑year extension study. J Orthop Surg Res, 21:43.

6 – Bliddal, H., et al., (2026). Clin Exp Rheumatol.

Marketing code: OUS/ARTHRO/MAR2026/041