KEY POINTS:
Jono Gibbes' dicky knee has given out on him for the last time.
With the reality that his body was no longer up to the rigours of professionally rugby staring him in the face, the 31-year-old Chiefs lock called time on his career yesterday.
"I simply can't play
how I used to with my knee injury," he said.
"It is a hard thing to come to terms with because my heart is still in the game, but the simple truth is that my knee is no longer up to it."
It was a typically frank statement from Gibbes, whose chronic left knee injury ruled him out of the whole of last season's national championship and reduced him to a bit player for the Chiefs this year.
He started the season belatedly named as captain - his sixth at the Chiefs' helm - but lasted just three matches before succumbing to what at the time was described as a hamstring injury. While he returned for the last two matches in South Africa, he would have seen that not only was his body failing him, but the game was also away from old-school locks such as himself.
With the faster game created by the introduction of the ELVs, and the consequent premium on mobility, Gibbes, one of just a handful of 30-somethings playing Super rugby, would have already known the writing was on the wall.
"While I would have loved to have played more games [for Waikato] this season, the reality is that I would have failed to meet my playing commitments and this would be a disservice to the team," he said.
"I will miss being a player. It is a unique shared experience being part of a rugby team. There are some incredible, almost indescribable moments that come with playing in front of crowds that support you or even when they are against you.
"I have been fortunate to play alongside a lot of guys that embodied what the colours were about, and I learned a lot from them. I tried my best to be a Waikato man."
His more memorable achievements include Waikato's 2006 national championship victory and leading NZ Maori to victory over the Lions at Waikato Stadium in 2005.
He made his All Blacks debut in June 2004 against England in Dunedin and played a total of eight test matches for New Zealand.
At provincial level he played 64 games for Waikato and 68 for the Chiefs.
He said he intended to pursue coaching opportunities overseas.
Fullback Mils Muliaina, who stood in for Gibbes for much of the season, is the logical choice to replace him as captain.