Former NSW Waratahs and Wallabies back-rower Ned Hanigan has announced his sudden retirement from the game.
Provence Rugby, his French club, announced overnight that the colourful character was stepping away from the sport due to medical reasons.
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"Provence Rugby announces with emotion that Ned Hanigan is forced to end his professional rugby career," the statement read.
“On medical advice, the Australian international flanker must now prioritize his health and retire from playing top-level rugby.
"Having arrived in the off-season in 2024, Ned played five matches for the Provençal club. Those five matches were enough to highlight his exceptional quality: intelligent, well-rounded, athletic, precise, and always making the right decisions. Every time he stepped onto the pitch, his skill was undeniable.
"But beyond his sporting achievements, it’s the man himself that the club will remember most. Radiant, humble, and incredibly kind, Ned immediately made a lasting impression on the locker room and everyone who worked with him. Respectful, hardworking, and always positive, he will have left a sincere and enduring mark despite his all-too-brief time at the club.”
Hanigan burst onto the scene with the Waratahs, making his debut in 2016.
He played close to 90 games in the sky blue jersey across two stints following a brief sojourn to Japan.
The Dubbo-born back-rower would pull on the gold jersey a year later, debuting against Fiji, and would be named Rookie of the Year in 2017.
Hanigan would play 28 games for his country, last featuring against Wales in 2022.
This was coupled by two appearances for Australia A in 2023, scoring in his final game in the gold jersey against Portugal.
