David Pocock has retired with immediate effect

Former Australia captain David Pocock has called time on his professional rugby career after 15 years. The 32-year-old, who retired from international rugby after 78 Tests following the World Cup last year, has elected not to see out the final year of his playing contract in Japan.

Pocock says he's hoping to continue in grassroots rugby in Western Australia and also his native Zimbabwe. "Rugby has given me so much opportunity," Pocock said in a statement.

"From a start at the Western Force to my years at the ACT Brumbies and the Panasonic Wild Knights, I'm so grateful for the community each of those clubs provided me and the skills I was able to develop.

"It's been a huge privilege to represent Australia and it's really exciting now to see the next generation of Wallabies stepping up."

With a known interest in conservation, the former flanker has already started on his next venture, called the Rangelands Restoration Trust in southern Zimbabwe.

"We're working to build land-use models that regenerate degraded rangelands while creating wildlife habitat and improving the prosperity of people who depend on the land for their livelihoods. This kind of regenerative agriculture is a critical tool in the midst of the climate and extinction crises we are facing.

"There are a lot of people doing great work in this field and we're working to incorporate many of their ideas as we partner with rural communities to improve local economies while increasing biodiversity and re-establishing wildlife migration corridors."