Force flanker Alcock announces retirement

Thu, Jun 25, 2020, 11:45 PM
Beth Newman
by Beth Newman
Chris Alcock is retiring. Photo: Getty Images
Chris Alcock is retiring. Photo: Getty Images

Force flanker Chris Alcock has decided to retire after a decade of putting his body through "a fair bit of stress" on the field.

Alcock played for the Waratahs, Brumbies and Force in Super Rugby and has also had a stint with Japanese side Suntory over more than a decade at the top level.

The 32-year-old bolted into Wallabies contention after a stellar year in 2017 but injuries and the intense contest for openside flanker spots hampered his opportunities.

In a statement on Friday, Alcock said his body was telling him that the time was right to draw the curtains on his professional career.

"I’ve put my body through a fair bit of stress and damage, and it just came to the point where I was more concerned about getting injured than playing rugby,” Alcock said.

Alcock will train with the Force for a short time longer but will not be playing any games.

“I’m still training with the squad for a couple more days but for the last few weeks I have been doing whatever I can to get the guys in the best shape going into their first game,” he said.

“Just seeing how they are building and coming together is something that I have loved; it’s quite hard to be almost on the outside already.”

“I’ve absolutely loved it here; this is my seventh year at the Force. I really love Perth and I love the people here. And the club is amazing - I’ve thoroughly enjoyed that side of it,” he said.

Alcock said he was grateful for the chance to see the world with rugby and said when he started with NSW, he never imagined he would be playing for so long.

“I got pulled out of second-grade rugby to go to the Waratahs - I was only training one day a week while I was at university, so I did not see that happening from where I was,” he said.

“With rugby I have been able to travel the world. I’ve lived in Japan, I’ve played in South America, New Zealand and South Africa. I can’t give it enough credit for what it has given me.”

Teammate Marcel Brache paid tribute to Alcock after his announcement.

“I think it is difficult to put into words how much Chris has given to the club and how much he means to the club as well,” Brache said.

“You wouldn’t have thought that "Cocky" had called time on his career the way he was training but also the way that he was checking in on the players, I think it’s just Chris’ nature. He is a very caring and genuine guy.”

The Western Force open their Super Rugby AU season against the Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday July 11, kicking off at 7:15pm AEST, LIVE on Foxtel, Foxtel Now and Kayo Sports. Buy a Kayo subscription here.

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