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Jake Polledri lands coaching role after early retirement
By Josh Raisey
Former Italy back row Jack Polledri will join National 1 outfit Cinderford as a coach for the 2024/25 season.
The 20-cap Italy international announced his retirement from rugby in March at the age of 28 due to an inability to fully recover from the catastrophic knee injury he suffered in 2020.
He will begin his journey into coaching with the Gloucestershire club, who currently sit at the foot of the National 1 table, English rugby's third tier.
This move will also see Polledri make a return to English rugby, having played the final months of his career in Italy with Zebre in the United Rugby Championship after joining from Gloucester at the end of last season.
Polledri spent the bulk of his career with the Cherry and Whites, but it was in the blue of Italy where he suffered the knee injury that ultimately led to his retirement.
He opened up on the injury in his retirement message online: "My return to the pitch from my catastrophic knee injury in 2020 was tough. A lot of people wrote me off immediately, which didn’t deter me. From complete paralysis in my foot to 677 days later being able to run out at Gloucester Kingsholm again. The support from the Kingsholm fans was immense and is cherished.
"Thank you to Gloucester for all the years of support, I could not have recovered this far without the incredible team of physios and S&C. Enabling me to uphold my promise to my late brother Sam, that I was to return to the pitch.
"My foot however hasn’t returned back to 100% and ultimately it has affected my ability to return to the high level of rugby I played, and it has also affected life generally. I have reluctantly accepted that my body and professionals are telling me to retire from the sport that I love."
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Latest Comments
Hopefully Joe stays where he is. That would mean Les, McKellar, larkham and Cron should as well. It’s the stability we need in the state programs. But, if Joe goes, RA with its current financial situation will be forced into promoting from within. And this will likely destabilise other areas.
To better understand some of the entrenched bitterness of those outside of NZ and NSW (as an example 😂), Nic, there is probably a comparison to the old hard heads of welsh rugby who are still stuck in the 1970s. Before the days where clubs merged, professionalism started, and the many sharp knives were put into the backs of those who loved the game more than everyone else. I’m sure you know a few... But given your comparison of rugby in both wales and Australia, there are a few north of the tweed that will never trust a kiwi or NSWelshman because of historical events and issues over the history of the game. It is what it is. For some, time does not heal all wounds. And it is still festering away in some people. Happy holidays to you. All the best in 2025.
Go to commentsNot surprised to see Barretts rating. He has always been a solid defender for the ABs but not particularly effective in attack situations.
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