Injury-plagued Pocock retires from Super Rugby, eyes to play World Cup

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After battling with prolonging injuries and keeping an eye on the upcoming 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, Australian Rugby Union stalwart David Pocock has decided to call it a day from Super Rugby on Tuesday. The Zimbabwe-born Wallabies legend, however, is racing against time to be fit for the quadrennial event from September to November.

Pocock, 31, has been grappling with a calf injury that has dogged his season with his Super Rugby side ACT Brumbies. There had been speculation that he would sit out the rest of the season to bolster his chance to spearhead the Australians in their mission for winning the Web Ellis Trophy.

Pocock said in a press statement released by his Canberra-based side, "After 13 years of professional rugby, I'm looking forward to the challenges the rest of this year holds and also thinking about what comes next."

New Zealand's Sam Whitelock tackles Australia's David Pocock (R) during the Bledisloe Cup game between Australian Wallabies and New Zealand All Blacks in Sydney, Australia, August 20, 2016. /VCG Photo

It also stated that Pocock's injury is a "rare calf strain that is unfortunately not progressing as hoped and needs further time to heal."

"No exact timeframe for a return to playing can be provided at this stage," the club added.

Pocock, whose family migrated to Australia from Zimbabwe, has twice won Australia's top rugby union award, the John Eales Medal.

The 77-Test veteran also has a contract with the Japanese side of Panasonic Wild Knights after the World Cup and will not seek a new contract with Australian Rugby after it runs out this year. He, however, will remain eligible to play for the Wallabies.

While talking on the future of his international career, Pocock has told the Canberra Times: "I haven't put anything in stone, but I think that's it. I feel like I've put a lot into my rugby, I've got a huge amount out of it and I'm very grateful for the opportunities I've had."

Known for his stellar role in the breakdowns, Pocock was one of the brightest stars in Australia's campaign at the World Cups in 2011 and 2015. He was chosen as the 79th Wallabies captain in 2012 at the age of only 23.

Off the rugby field, he has been known for his activism work for climate change, gay rights, and wildlife preservation. In fact, to show solidarity to the LGBTQ community in Australia in 2010, he vowed not to wed unless and until gay marriage was passed into law in Australia. Once it became a reality in late 2017, Pocock married his long-time girlfriend Emma Palandri in December that year.