Pocock’s last home Test

WALLABIES back-row star David Pocock will retire from Test rugby after the World Cup.

Pocock will captain the Wallabies against Samoa in Sydney tonight in what will now be his final Test in Australia and his 78th overall.

It will be his first Test of the year after a calf injury sidelined him in March and limited him to just 137 minutes of time across three Super Rugby games for the Brumbies.

Tonight’s match at Bankwest Stadium will now be the last Test on home soil for at least four Wallabies with prop Sekope Kepu, halfback Will Genia and hooker Tatafu Polota-nau all announcing they would retire after the World Cup. Pocock delivered the news in typically understated fashion.

He made reference to longtime teammate Genia and himself finishing up together in Sydney. Asked if it would be his last Test in Australia, Pocock said: “I think so, yeah.” A few minutes after the press conference finished the Wallabies tweeted Pocock would retire from international rugby after the World Cup.

The 31-year-old Zimbabwean-born forward announced in May he was retiring from Super Rugby.

Asked if it was his body which was behind his decision, Pocock said: “A few different things.

“I feel like I’ve put a lot into it. I’ve really enjoyed it. I’ve benefited a huge amount.

“As an immigrant to Australia, rugby has provided me with somewhere to make friends, to feel like I belong.

“It’s time to move on to other things and contribute in other areas.”