Wallabies star Porecki announces retirement from rugby
Porecki traversed an unconventional path in professional rugby, spending five seasons in the UK with Saracens and London Irish after playing just the one Super Rugby match for the NSW Waratahs in 2015.He returned to Australia and the Waratahs ahead of the 2021 season, but his Wallabies debut came a year later in a memorable win against England in Perth.
Known for his accuracy at set piece and tireless work rate, Porecki was named in the 2023 Rugby World Cup squad and became the 88th Wallabies captain after Will Skelton was injured, leading the side in three of their four pool matches in France.
Injury ruled out Porecki for the entire 2024 season, but he fought his way back to the international stage to start for the Wallabies in their first Test this year against Fiji.His 21st and final appearance in the Wallaby gold was against the Lions in Melbourne, with a cut to his heel at training forcing him out of last Saturday night's series finale."To wear the Wallaby gold and Waratahs blue was a dream of mine as a boy growing up in Manly and to be able to say I did both is something I'm incredibly proud of," Porecki said in a statement from the Waratahs."Rugby has given me so much to be thankful for and has been such a massive part of my life for so long but it feels like the right time for me to turn the page and start a new chapter."
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt paid tribute to the outgoing rake.
"Porky is the ultimate professional and quiet achiever," he said.
"He doesn't say a lot, preferring to get on with the job and to lead by example, and he's done that really well for the time that I've known him."Waratahs coach Dan McKellar said: 'It's a sad day when any when any player retires."I have worked closely with Porky for a number of years and have huge respect for him, with what he brings on field with his qualities at set piece, physicality, and toughness," McKellar said."He's never been the biggest hooker going around. He's always played well above his weight."Off field, he's a true family man and genuinely good bloke. He'll be sadly missed throughout the walls of the Waratahs."
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