David Pocock announces retirement from Test rugby
Wallabies back row star David Pocock will retire from Test rugby after the upcoming World Cup. The 31-year-old debuted for Australia against the All Blacks in 2008 and has been an integral member of the Wallabies over the past decade.
However, he announced at a press conference in Sydney on Friday that his international career will come to an end this year. "I feel like it's time for me to move onto other things and contribute in other areas," he said.
"As an immigrant, rugby has provided me with somewhere to make friends, to feel like I belong and obviously huge opportunities to play professional rugby at the Force, Brumbies and Wallabies.
"On a personal note, you reflect on the time you've had in a Wallabies jersey, what you've tried to add, the legacy you hope you'll leave and then just the opportunity to play in front of family and friends one last time.
"That's all great but it comes down to the team effort really. That's been the focus for the guys, we know if we don't have a good team performance it won't be as special."
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Earlier this year, Pocock confirmed his retirement from Super Rugby as he will rejoin the Panasonic Wild Knights in the Japanese Top League following the World Cup.
Despite not having played since March due to an ongoing calf injury, Pocock will captain the Wallabies in their final World Cup warm-up match against Samoa at Bankwest Stadium on Saturday in what will be his final Test on home soil.
The Wallabies will then travel to Japan to kick-off their World Cup campaign, which begins on September 22 against Fiji in Sapporo.
It's there where Pocock hopes to make the most of his last tournament in the green and gold of Australia. "I'm not done just yet, there will be plenty of time to reflect on it," he said. "I am very much wanting to get back out there and get back to my best rugby and contribute over the next couple of months."
WATCH: The RugbyPass stadium guide to Sapporo where Australia will begin their World Cup campaign against Fiji
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Look, we know contradicting opinions and wacky comments bring readers and clicks, so well done to RP for allowing always-wrong-Ben to say something here. However RP needs to put a disclaimer next to his comments for their own credibility. NZ was and is incapable of acknowledging their opp beating them. They refused so with Ire and with Arg in 2022 and also the Boks in 2023 x 2. Nothing Ben says here holds water, NZ attacked backwards, except when Kolisi and Kolbe was off And cyncialy took out Bongi, we played without lineouts for 75mins. Kolisi and Kurt-Lee almost scored twice. Thats 3 vs 2 for Boks, but the Boks opportunities was legal. Boks should have been 16-3 up by half time. Tacticaly the Boks attacked better defended better scrummed better (without a hooker) kicked better and crossed the whitewash more times. Boks beat Fr Eng Nz to win in 23, comeon give some credit at least. Even Federer Verstappen NY Mets, Mamoa, was able to see a great human sport achievement by the Boks and their DNA Boks #RWC27 !🏉
Go to commentsForget the 85kg bit, that can become something else. However I do like the one off test on ANZAC day idea. SR plays Fri/ Sat, test players travel Sunday and the squads have the full week together before playing Saturday. Rest of SR has a week off. Either involve women's teams in same location or in the other country and rotate annually. Herbert is right in that change is needed.
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