Panasonic Wild Knights flanker
"It was a really tough decision to make," Pocock told
"
The former Wallaby, who was twice a finalist for World Player of the Year, last played on
The 32-year-old was originally contracted to
He had considered returning next year for one more season with the Wild Knights, in part as a way to thank head coach
But the novel coronavirus pandemic, along with the growing toll on his body from high-level rugby, led him to abandon the idea.
"Under pressure, Robbie shows what type of man he is and how much he cares about players. He treats them as a human first and rugby player second," Pocock said of the former
"He has played a huge part in my career. When I first thought of coming here, Robbie was the first person I talked to. I have enjoyed working with him and have learned a lot."
Learning is something Pocock, one of the masters of the breakdown, has often emphasized. And it is one of the things he most enjoyed about his time in
"It was great seeing how much the guys (at
And while he is open to doing some spot coaching in the future -- "I enjoy working with young players who are keen to learn" -- it will take second place to his other great love.
Despite fleeing his birthplace
Having previously worked with anti-poaching scouts in their efforts to save endangered rhinos, Pocock has set up the
"We're working to build land-use models that regenerate degraded rangelands, while creating wildlife habitat and improving the prosperity of people who depend on the land for their livelihoods. This kind of regenerative agriculture is a critical tool in the midst of the climate and extinction crises we are facing," he said.
A no-nonsense player who was known as the "Breakdown Beast," Pocock takes a similarly straightforward approach appraising his time in a game that in recent years has seen a growing number of players retire early due to injury.
"It's a physical, demanding game and every player has to weigh that up," he said, adding that the "end comes at different times for different players."
"I feel incredibly fortunate and grateful to have had the opportunities I've had. I've had a great run and it's been a huge part of my life for 15 years. But now it's the time to take the next step and make a life outside of rugby."
==Kyodo
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