Latest news with #Porecki
NBC Sports
4 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.
Irish Examiner
6 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Porecki makes surprise call to retire after breaking back into Wallabies
Australia hooker Dave Porecki has retired from professional rugby only weeks after reviving his test career. The New South Wales Waratah battled injuries in recent seasons but made his first Australia appearance under coach Joe Schmidt against Fiji last month after nearly two years out of the Wallabies. After suffering a concussion against Fiji and missing the first British & Irish Lions test in Brisbane, Porecki was recalled for the second clash in Melbourne before being sidelined for the third and final test in Sydney due to a cut heel at training. Capped 21 times for the Wallabies, Porecki said it was the right time to start a new chapter in his life. "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," he said in a statement on Tuesday. "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 was part of Australia's 2023 World Cup squad and became the 88th Wallabies captain after injury to Will Skelton, leading the side in three of their four pool matches at the tournament. Schmidt praised Porecki as the "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," he said.
The 42
6 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
Australian World Cup captain retires from rugby after Lions tour
AUSTRALIAN HOOKER DAVE Porecki has retired from professional rugby with immediate effect. The 32-year-old, who travelled an unconventional path to the international stage, captained his country at the 2023 Rugby World Cup following an injury to Will Skelton. The New South Wales Waratah missed the entirety of the 2024 campaign, but battled back to make his first appearance for Joe Schmidt against Fiji last month. A concussion ruled him out of the first test against the Lions, but he returned for the second game in Melbourne for his 21st and final cap. A cut to his heel saw him miss the series finale. Advertisement Porecki made one cameo appearance for the Waratahs, back in 2015, before embarking on a five-year stint in England, playing with Saracens and London Irish. He became a regular on his return to the Sydney-based team and, at the age of 29, Porecki made his Wallaby debut in a memorable victory over England in July 2022. '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,' said Porecki in a statement. '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. '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.' Head coach Schmidt paid tribute, saying: 'Porky is 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. 'On behalf of everyone within the team, we wish him and his family all the best in this next stage of their lives.'
Courier-Mail
6 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
6 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.
