Wallaby Pat McCabe forced to retire from rugby after fracturing his neck for the third time

UPDATE: PAT McCabe is set to be take up a front-office job with the Brumbies after the Wallabies star announces his retirement due to a neck injury today.

Pat McCabe scores. The Wallabies vs France at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. Pic Peter Wallis

UPDATE: PAT McCabe is set to be take up a front-office job with the Brumbies after the Wallabies star announces his retirement due to a neck injury on Thursday.

McCabe will release a statement formally hanging up the boots after specialists confirmed on Tuesday the 26-year-old had sustained a fracture in his spine in the Wallabies’ loss to New Zealand last weekend.

Coming after two identical neck fractures in the past two seasons, specialists “strongly suggested” McCabe quit footy and Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham yesterday revealed the 24-Test Wallaby had heeded the advice.

“Pat has made the decision he’s not going to play again,” Larkham told ABC Radio in Canberra.

The Brumbies coach jumped the gun slightly, with the club later saying McCabe had yet to talk with the ARU about his situation and no official announcement would come until today.

It is understood the Brumbies will honour the remainder of McCabe’s contract and put him on staff in a development or admin role next year.

McCabe is also three-quarters of his way through a law degree, and said recently he contemplated “having to get a real job” during the rehab from his last neck injury.

Larkham said McCabe had returned to the game this season in career-best form.

“Pat has had a number of good years at the Brumbies,” Larkham said. “I really thought this year was his best year in terms of performance.

“I thought things were up and up for him from here, so (it is) really devastating news for Patty and for his family. The good thing is he’s in a neck brace at the moment and will stay in that neck brace for the next couple of months and the neck should heal up fine, but devastating that he won’t play rugby again.”

Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie yesterday saluted McCabe’s tenacity.

“He’d had some outstanding games this year in different roles,” McKenzie said.

“Personally having had a neck injury that lingered on for a long time, I know it would have been hard for him. To get back on the field has been an outstanding effort, and then to play well, even better. The impact he’s had on the game this year has been terrific, and make it back to the Wallabies jersey.”

McCabe played 66 Super Rugby games and 24 Tests after debuting for both the ACT and Australia in 2010.

READ MORE FROM TELEGRAPH SPORT

Pat McCabe tackles Julian Savea during the 2014 Bledisloe Cup match in Sydney.

It is understood the Brumbies will honour the remainder of McCabe’s contract and put him on staff in a development or admin role next year.

McCabe is also three-quarters of his way through a law degree, and said recently he contemplated “having to get a real job” during the rehab from his last neck injury.

Larkham said McCabe had returned to the game this season in career-best form.

“Pat has had a number of good years at the Brumbies,” Larkham said. “I really thought this year was his best year in terms of performance.

“I thought things were up and up for him from here, so (it is) really devastating news for Patty and for his family. The good thing is he’s in a neck brace at the moment and will stay in that neck brace for the next couple of months and the neck should heal up fine, but devastating that he won’t play rugby again.”

Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie yesterday saluted McCabe’s tenacity.

“He’d had some outstanding games this year in different roles,” McKenzie said.

“Personally having had a neck injury that lingered on for a long time, I know it would have been hard for him. To get back on the field has been an outstanding effort, and then to play well, even better. The impact he’s had on the game this year has been terrific, and make it back to the Wallabies jersey.”

McCabe played 66 Super Rugby games and 24 Tests after debuting for both the ACT and Australia in 2010.

Originally published as Wallaby Pat McCabe forced to retire from rugby after fracturing his neck for the third time