Retired Wallabies star David Pocock will consider a future in politics after hanging up the boots
David Pocock has dropped a big hint as to where he sees his future now that his Wallabies career is over and it seems it could involve a role shaping the national political landscape.
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One of the most socially conscious rugby players of all time, David Pocock is hanging up the boots on his Test career and has not ruled out a future in politics.
The avid conservationist and human rights campaigner has retired from international rugby after 83 Tests, his last in the World Cup quarter-final loss to England, and after a stint in Japan next season will weigh up a potential role within Australian politics.
“I’m interested in a bunch of things outside rugby, the political landscape at the moment is fairly uninspiring when it comes to climate change and those sorts of things, so we’ll wait and see,” said Pocock, 31.
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“I’ll have a bit of time to think about it now, then I’ve got the six months in Japan.
“After that we’ll see. For me, issues like climate change, ecological crisis … there’s plenty to do.
“I’ll find something and get stuck in.”
Pocock, who could align with the Greens party, will be remembered as one of the greatest flankers of all time; his ball-pilfering skills second to none.
Having put his frame on the line in professional rugby since he was a teenager, Pocock absorbed an enormous battering that has damaged his neck, shoulders and limbs.
“It certainly takes its toll, you pick up injuries along the way and some of them linger longer than others,” he said.
“But I’ve been feeling really good, I think [head of athletic performance] Dean Benton has done an exceptional job, he’s really added to the program.
“Since the Noumea camp, half the guys have been setting personal bests in terms of acceleration or top speed, we’ve been in great shape.
“Watching games, people will have seen how fit we’ve been, second half we’ve been finishing strong, so it’s disappointing not to have out in a better performance and move forward.”
Meanwhile, Wallabies captain Michael Hooper said Australian rugby can turn the devastating results around through the players.
“Guys are sick of where it’s at, we want it to be better and that’s a positive,” Hooper said, while issuing a warning to his teammates about next season.
“The physical standards we’ve put on our players, that’s one that when guys turn up for a Super Rugby season it’s not just turning up for a pre-season to get fit, they’ll be fit when they turn up to pre-season,” he said.
“We should be seeing players kicking off Super Rugby in great shape.”