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Rugby League

Johns forced to quit

10/04/2007

Former Australia rugby league captain Andrew Johns has been forced to retire from professional sport with a serious neck injury.

The 32-year-old scrum-half, considered to be one of the world's best rugby league players of all time, has had scans to determine the extent of a routine training injury he suffered last week.

Neck specialist Professor John Yeo and physiotherapist Dr Neil Halpin of Newcastle Knights, Johns' current team in Australia, examined the half-back and confirmed that he could risk serious spinal damage if he were to continue playing.

"We do not believe that surgery, injections or physical therapy would improve his neck sufficiently for him to resume football safely," Dr Halpin said.

"While Andrew's departure leaves a gap almost impossible to fill, we should remember the years of enjoyment we've had watching the player who has become the best in the world and played his talents in such a way his performances have been held in awe," said Newcastle Knights chairman Peter Corcoran.

Johns, whose nickname is Joey, is rugby league's highest-ever points scorer in his 15-year elite-level career and Corcoran insisted that memories of the player would live on beyond his retirement.

"It's important we remember the Joey who has given us so much pleasure instead of the Joey who has been forced to retire while he still has so much to give our great game," he added.

"Andrew has singularly been the reason why so many people are now avid fans of rugby league. We thank him for that and our thoughts are with him at this difficult time."

The surgeons suggested that his symptoms would settle in time and enable him "to live an otherwise normal life".

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