Australia's Darwin forced to quit
MELBOURNE, Australia (Reuters) -- Australia prop Ben Darwin has quit rugby after suffering what he described as a terrifying neck injury during the World Cup semifinal win over New Zealand last year.
"Upon review of my injury the doctors have decided that it is necessary for me to retire from rugby," the 27-year-old said in a statement released by the Australian Rugby Union on Wednesday.
"There was no decision for me to make. The doctors's advice was very clear."
Darwin, who won 28 caps, injured his neck in a collapsed scrum against the All Blacks at Sydney's Olympic Stadium on November 15.
The 116-kilogram ACT Brumbies forward was forced to miss the World Cup final defeat by England a week later.
Doctors initially feared he would need surgery after scans revealed a prolapsed disc in his neck was touching his spinal cord. But later tests revealed the injury was not as bad as first thought.
Darwin said he lost all feeling in his arms and legs after the scrum had buckled down on him.
"Thank you to Kees Meeuws, who in a selfless act, may have saved my life," Darwin said.
The All Blacks forward stopped pushing in the scrum when Darwin called out "neck, neck, neck."
"To his credit, Kees Meeuws stopped pushing, which was fortunate because I lost feeling in my body and he could have really crashed me into the ground," Darwin said after the semifinal.
"It was terrifying but the medical staff did a great job of getting me into the right position, and then I felt pins and needles in my arms and legs which was a great relief."
A member of ACT's 2001 Super 12 championship-winning side, Darwin made his test debut against the British and Irish Lions later that year.
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