Latest news with #DavidPorecki

NBC Sports
2 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Wallabies hooker David Porecki retires from rugby
SYDNEY — Hooker David Porecki, who was a late injury withdrawal from Australia's lineup for the third test against the British and Irish Lions last weekend, has announced his retirement. Rugby Australia issued a statement Tuesday saying the 32-year-old Porecki, who sustained a heel injury last week, was retiring immediately and ending a career that included five seasons in Britain with Saracens and London Irish from 2015. He returned to Australia and the New South Wales Waratahs ahead of the 2021 Super Rugby season, and made his test debut a year later in a win for Australia against England in Perth. Porecki was part of Australia's 2023 Rugby World Cup squad and became the 88th Wallabies captain after an injury to Will Skelton, leading the team in three of its four pool matches at the tournament. Two-time champion Australia was eliminated in the group stage for the first time ever at a Rugby World Cup, hastening a change of coaching staff and leadership. Injury sidelined Porecki in 2024 but he returned to the Wallabies squad last month and started against Fiji in Australia's first test of 2025. His 21st and final test was at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 26, when the Lions clinched the three-test series with a contentious late try. '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,' Porecki said in the Rugby Australia statement, Australia's list of injuries continues to grow just four tests in the international season, although there has been some positive news for the Wallabies with a potential return for Allan Ala'alatoa during the Rugby Championship. Initially set to undergo shoulder surgery after sustaining an injury in Melbourne, Ala'alatoa is instead back in Canberra completing intensive rehab in the hope of rejoining the Wallabies for the four-nation tournament. The 31-year-old prop is expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks, giving him a chance of returning for the Sept. 13 test against Argentina in Sydney or the first match against New Zealand in Auckland two weeks later.

Courier-Mail
4 days ago
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
Wallabies: David Porecki announces his retirement
Don't miss out on the headlines from Rugby. Followed categories will be added to My News. Wallabies hooker David Porecki has made the shock decision to retire from rugby. Porecki, 32, was part of Australia's squad for the three-Test series against the British and Irish Lions, but was ruled out of last Saturday night's third clash in Sydney because of a cut heel. He also missed the Wallabies' 2024 campaign with an Achilles injury, but his retirement was seemingly unexpected as the national squad prepares to head to South Africa for two Rugby Championship games against the Springboks later this month. '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,' said Porecki, who played in 21 Tests for the Wallabies. 'There's a lot of people who have supported me in my journey, and to them I'll be forever grateful. 'I'm especially looking forward to spending more time with my wife Shani and kids Luca, Charlie and Billie. 'I look forward to continuing to support the game away from the field in this next stage of my life.' Porecki also captained the Wallabies during the 2023 Rugby World Cup after Will Skelton was injured. Wallabies hooker David Porecki has called time on his rugby career. Picture:Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said Porecki was the 'ultimate professional and quiet achiever'. '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,' Schmidt said. 'On behalf of everyone within the team we wish him and his family all the best in this next stage of their lives.' Sydney-born Porecki was proud to have represented both the Wallabies and the NSW Waratahs. '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,' he said. Waratahs coach Dan McKellar said Porecki would be 'sadly missed'. '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 … but I fully understand and respect his decision. 'We just wish him all the best.' Originally published as Wallabies hooker David Porecki calls time on his career to 'start a new chapter'


Washington Post
4 days ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Wallabies hooker David Porecki retires from rugby
SYDNEY — Hooker David Porecki, who was a late injury withdrawal from Australia's lineup for the third test against the British and Irish Lions last weekend, has announced his retirement. Rugby Australia issued a statement Tuesday saying the 32-year-old Porecki, who sustained a heel injury last week, was retiring immediately and ending a career that included five seasons in Britain with Saracens and London Irish from 2015.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wallabies hooker David Porecki retires from rugby
SYDNEY (AP) — Hooker David Porecki, who was a late injury withdrawal from the Australia's lineup for the third test against the British and Irish Lions last weekend, has announced his retirement. Rugby Australia issued a statement Tuesday saying the 32-year-old Porecki, who sustained a heel injury last week, was retiring immediately and ending a career that included five seasons in Britain with Saracens and London Irish from 2015. He returned to Australia and the New South Wales Waratahs ahead of the 2021 Super Rugby season, and made his test debut a year later in a win for Australia against England in Perth. Porecki was part of Australia's 2023 Rugby World Cup squad and became the 88th Wallabies captain after an injury to Will Skelton, leading the team in three of its four pool matches at the tournament. Two-time champion Australia was eliminated in the group stage for the first time ever at a Rugby World Cup, hastening a change of coaching staff and leadership. Injury sidelined Porecki in 2024 but he returned to the Wallabies squad last month and started against Fiji in Australia's first test of 2025. His 21st and final test was at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 26, when the Lions clinched the three-test series with a contentious late try. '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," Porecki said in the Rugby Australia statement. Australia's list of injuries continues to grow just four tests in the international season, although there has been some positive news for the Wallabies with a potential return for Allan Ala'alatoa during the Rugby Championship. Initially set to undergo shoulder surgery after sustaining an injury in Melbourne, Ala'alatoa is instead back in Canberra completing intensive rehab in the hope of rejoining the Wallabies for the four-nation tournament. The 31-year-old prop is expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks, giving him a chance of returning for the Sept. 13 test against Argentina in Sydney or the first match against New Zealand in Auckland two weeks later. ___ AP rugby:


Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Wallabies hooker David Porecki retires from rugby
SYDNEY (AP) — Hooker David Porecki, who was a late injury withdrawal from Australia's lineup for the third test against the British and Irish Lions last weekend, has announced his retirement. Rugby Australia issued a statement Tuesday saying the 32-year-old Porecki, who sustained a heel injury last week, was retiring immediately and ending a career that included five seasons in Britain with Saracens and London Irish from 2015. He returned to Australia and the New South Wales Waratahs ahead of the 2021 Super Rugby season, and made his test debut a year later in a win for Australia against England in Perth. Porecki was part of Australia's 2023 Rugby World Cup squad and became the 88th Wallabies captain after an injury to Will Skelton, leading the team in three of its four pool matches at the tournament. Two-time champion Australia was eliminated in the group stage for the first time ever at a Rugby World Cup, hastening a change of coaching staff and leadership. Injury sidelined Porecki in 2024 but he returned to the Wallabies squad last month and started against Fiji in Australia's first test of 2025. His 21st and final test was at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 26, when the Lions clinched the three-test series with a contentious late try. '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,' Porecki said in the Rugby Australia statement. Australia's list of injuries continues to grow just four tests in the international season, although there has been some positive news for the Wallabies with a potential return for Allan Ala'alatoa during the Rugby Championship. Initially set to undergo shoulder surgery after sustaining an injury in Melbourne, Ala'alatoa is instead back in Canberra completing intensive rehab in the hope of rejoining the Wallabies for the four-nation tournament. The 31-year-old prop is expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks, giving him a chance of returning for the Sept. 13 test against Argentina in Sydney or the first match against New Zealand in Auckland two weeks later. ___ AP rugby: