Darwin is forced to retire
14 April 2012
Australia prop Ben Darwin has been forced to quit rugby due to the neck injury he suffered in the World Cup semi-final victory over New Zealand in November.
Darwin was caught in a collapsed scrum and lay motionless on the turf for three minutes after losing all feeling from the neck down. Doctors later diagnosed a prolapsed disc had touched his spinal cord, sending it into shock.
Although the 27-year-old escaped permanent injury, he said today: "There was no decision for me to make. The doctors have made it very clear."
