Sydney - Australia winger Clyde Rathbone announced his retirement on Wednesday after suffering a nasty facial injury.
The South African-born Rathbone, 28, said the facial fractures suffered in a ruck had effectively brought forward his retirement, which he had planned for the end of the season.
"The injury happened after I decided but I guess it just solidified things," Rathbone said, adding he would undergo surgery on Thursday.
"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 debuted for Australia in 2004 and retires after playing 26 Tests and 52 Super matches for the ACT Brumbies, figures curtailed by a savage run of injuries over the past four seasons.
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"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."
Rathbone said he had turned down offers from the Western Force and foreign clubs and will stay in Canberra to run his occupational health business.
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