David Pocock calls an end to his spectacular professional rugby career

By The Roar / Editor

David Pocock’s celebrated 15-year rugby career has come to an end after the former Wallabies captain announced his retirement from the professional game.

After calling time on his international career after last year’s World Cup, Pocock still had a year to play with Japanese side the Panasonic Wild Knights. However, the openside flanker has today decided to hang up his boots and focus on pursuing his conservational interests instead.

“Rugby has given me so much opportunity. 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,” Pocock said.

“I’m also very grateful for all the coaches, medical staff and administrators who’ve made my career possible. The biggest thanks, though, goes to all the teammates I’ve had throughout the years.

“I hope to keep contributing to rugby through involvement in grassroots programs in both Western Australia and Zimbabwe.”

One of the finest flankers to ever grace a rugby field, particularly on the defensive side of the ball and at the breakdown, Pocock won two John Eales Medals and represented Australia in three World Cups, playing a starring role in two of them.

In 2011, his performance in the quarter-final against the Springboks almost single-handedly hauled the Wallabies into the final four, while his outings in 2015 – coming out of position at the back of the scrum wearing the number eight jersey – helped Australia not just out of their ‘group of death’, but also into a shock final appearance against the All Blacks.

Born in Zimbabwe, Pocock grew up dreaming of playing for the Springboks before moving with his family to Brisbane as a child. After being signed by the Western Force, he made his professional rugby debut against the Sharks in 2006 and played 69 matches for the club until 2012. During this time, he earned his first Wallaby appearance as a substitute in a Barbarians match in 2008.

In 2010, he won his first John Eales medal after a standout season, and was also an IRB international player of the year finalist that year and the year after. In 2012, aged just 23, he was handed the Wallabies captaincy after an injury to regular skipper James Horwill.

Pocock moved to the Brumbies in 2013, however a series of knee injuries, a year away from the game, and concussion and calf issues later on limited him to 43 appearances with the side before he announced his retirement from Super Rugby and Tests in 2019.

Pocock has been vocal throughout his career about social and particularly environmental issues, and his focus on conservation will come as little surprise given he is currently studying for a masters of sustainable agriculture.

“I’ve just started the Rangelands Restoration Trust and we have been working on our first project, which is 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,” Pocock said.

“The looming climate and biodiversity crises make building better ways of organising our lives, our communities and our societies more urgent than ever. Our wellbeing is tied up with nature as we are part of nature. The work of restoring rangelands provides really important benefits in terms of biodiversity and carbon sequestration as well as the opportunity to meaningfully improve the prosperity of communities.”

The Crowd Says:

2021-02-11T05:30:39+00:00

mzilikazi

Roar Pro


Rubbish....do you know anything about Zimbabwe, it's great people...Shona and Matabele...about the terrible state the country is in. I will be interested in your background in relation to Zim...lived there etc ??

2021-02-11T05:26:57+00:00

mzilikazi

Roar Pro


Just read what I said, TI, and think about it ! You have jumped in without understanding what I am saying.

2020-10-28T05:21:55+00:00

piru

Roar Rookie


Pocock for PM?

2020-10-27T04:19:57+00:00

Dirkdiggler

Roar Rookie


Great news, hopefully he gives a lot back to Oz rugby.

2020-10-27T03:04:05+00:00

Crusher_13

Roar Rookie


He made an appearance at the Canberra club finals 2 weeks ago...

2020-10-26T23:53:43+00:00

Lara

Guest


I wish Pocock was made captain more often. He never let the side down. The guy was always in the mix. A pain in the butt to all opponents, but always the gentleman . Great player.

2020-10-26T23:45:02+00:00

The Slow Eater

Roar Rookie


A great player and a joy to watch. He will be missed.

2020-10-26T08:12:20+00:00

Ex force fan

Guest


Pocock is a man wil principles that will enjoy his post rugby life. He is doing work for the Western Force to promote rugby in WA and I however to see him champion rugby union in WA more often although I think Africa is in his blood. It is hard to get the continent out of you once it’s people and animals got into your heart. All the best.

2020-10-26T08:08:48+00:00

Ex force fan

Guest


Hamba gashle is Zulu for “walk well/nicely”. He is not going to Zululand is he?

2020-10-25T19:28:13+00:00

Waxhead

Roar Rookie


@Targa Interesting. I rate Pooey well above Wilson and Poido. I saw their careers too - great players to be sure but I rate Pooey better. I'd then go Waugh and Roche ahead of Hooper :silly:

2020-10-25T05:24:01+00:00

Targa

Roar Rookie


Very good player. He's the 4th best Australian openside I've seen. George Smith is clearly no 1, then there isn't much between David Wilson, Simon Poedevin, and Pocock. Phil Waugh and Michael Hooper are just behind.

2020-10-25T04:53:34+00:00

Dirkdiggler

Roar Rookie


To add, he won’t be seen in Australia, he will go back home to Zimbabwe.

2020-10-25T04:46:48+00:00

Dirkdiggler

Roar Rookie


What is this guys form. Great player not doubt, and after being paid nearly 1 million to have a sabbatical year off, gets injured for a year (not his fault), he retires from Australian rugby. We’re is the return to Rugby Au. So he is happy to take the money, take the attention, but he has no loyalty, And let’s be honest why should he have been paid for a year off, none of us get that with our employer. He owes Australian rugby and now gets have to ride off into the sunset and become a perpetual complainer. Go away David, you are not wanted in Oz.

2020-10-25T04:03:02+00:00

Samj

Guest


Made more turnovers in test matches than any other player during his era. Nuff said. Epic player. Thanks Poey.

2020-10-24T21:21:12+00:00

Waxhead

Roar Rookie


Big thanks to Pooey for his stellar career and services to Aust rugby. He, Smith and McCaw are the 3 best no 7s I've ever seen. And hee could have been even more valuable if not for M. Cheika. In consistently selecting Hooper at no 7, despite him being a clearly inferior player and captain, Cheika robbed the WBs, fans and Pooey himself of better success. Cheika also robbed us fans of seeing the best no 7 in the world in his best position in the prime of his career. I will never forgive Cheika for this error alone. Likely we'll hear much more of Pooey in future as he moves into other areas of interest :thumbup:

2020-10-24T13:48:58+00:00

Bobwire

Guest


Mzil, he went to Midlands Christian College in Gweru I think.

2020-10-24T11:47:52+00:00

The Isn`t

Roar Rookie


Rhodesia? Really? In 2020? Even when David Pockock was born in 1988 , 8 years after 1980? Don`t spoil comments to a great man like David with your Xxxxxxxx/Zimbabwe. He was born in Zimbabwe.

2020-10-24T09:23:35+00:00

James

Guest


Eales, Horan, Campese and Gregan were fortunate to play in good Wallaby teams so looked good. Pocock efforts in poor Wallaby teams was outstanding.

2020-10-24T09:08:14+00:00

Jockstar

Guest


Best defensive backrower but too slow to be a link and attacking forward. But still one of the greats.

2020-10-24T07:56:56+00:00

Redbeard

Roar Rookie


Thought he left the building some years back?

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