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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
Willis is incredible and probably the best of the bunch but in Underhill and Earl we have two excellent alternatives.
Willis is solid in the lineout but I don't think Borthwick would pick a backrow without a 6'5" blindside.
Go to commentsAs an ABs fan there’s nothing to justify
The Boks are the best and just know how to win
And their depth is incredible now
And when they don’t they lose late on by one point
The rest of us aren’t too far away (some closer than others)
But in reality if we include England Argentina and now Aus rugby looks greatly competitive
Bongis knock on and Lomaxes double bank
These things happen
The fact is the ABs overall have evolved with new players and others like Aumua Vaai and Williams who have progressed immensely
But by and large although it has improved overall our second halves are a massive work in progress
So a B- is about right provided there is no loss to Italy
A loss drops it to C- !!
Remember we could have lost all three games to England but were just slightly better that’s all
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