Rugby: Injury ends Rathbone's career

Former Wallaby Clyde Rathbone. Photo / Getty Images

BRISBANE - Former Wallabies winger Clyde Rathbone will undergo surgery today which will effectively end his career after suffering a nasty facial injury.

Rathbone sustained facial fractures while playing for Uni-Norths in the Canberra club competition last weekend.

The South African-raised 28-year-old, who debuted for Australia in 2004, had already decided 2009 would be his last in the Super 14 for the Brumbies.

"The injury happened after I decided but I guess it just solidified things," Rathbone said today.

"I'm not exactly sure what happened. I got hit in the ruck.

"It may have been a knee ... I hope it was accidental."

Rathbone retires after playing 26 tests for Australia and 52 Super rugby matches for the Brumbies, but both tallies would have been much higher if not for a dreadful run with injury over the past four seasons.

A chronic knee problem restricted him to almost no rugby from March 2007. While he made a brave comeback after surgery this season, the tackle-shedding flyer had lost his pace and impact.

Rathbone, who fielded offers from both the Western Force and overseas, wanted to stay in Canberra to continue his business, Health Futures.

"It came down to the main factor in the decision was just from a lifestyle point of view and to make sure I can do all the things I like to do," he said.

"I like to be quite active with playing squash and go hiking and do all that stuff and if I keep doing what I'm doing with my knee I won't able to do that."

With Rathbone no longer on their roster, the Brumbies have moved closer to finalising their 2010 squad by signing Northern Suburbs (Sydney) outside back Andrew Smith to a rookie contract.

"Clyde was one of the most explosive and damaging players in the Super 14 when he burst upon the scene with the Brumbies in 2003," said Brumbies boss Andrew Fagan.

"He always kept his chin up and worked extremely hard to get himself back on the pitch from injuries but, no matter what the situation, he was always a positive contributor to the team.

"It was a good measure of the man that it was always about the team rather than himself."

- AAP