Rugby: Wallaby McCabe forced into retirement

Pat McCabe of the Wallabies. Photo / Getty Images.

Brumbies and Wallabies outside back Pat McCabe has been forced to retire because of a neck injury.

Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham told ABC radio the 26-year-old had decided to hang up his boots after consulting with a specialist.

McCabe fractured his neck in the Wallabies' 51-20 loss to the All Blacks at Eden Park on Saturday.

The injury was the third time McCabe had suffered a serious neck injury.

"Pat has made the decision he's not going to play again," Larkham said.

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

"He had a really good pre-season, he had a bit of a scare earlier in the year but he overcame that and fought his way back into the Wallabies side and I thought things were up and up for him from here, so 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."

McCabe had been a member of the Brumbies squad from 2010 and played 24 Tests for Australia.

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-AAP