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Pocock set to say farewell Australian rugby as calf injury threatens to end Brumbies career

Wallabies star David Pocock is expected to announce on Tuesday afternoon that he is leaving Australian rugby after the World Cup.

The champion back-rower will also give an update on his lingering calf injury during a Brumbies press conference in Canberra at 1:30pm AEST.

Pocock has been forced to watch the Brumbies from the sidelines for the majority of the year.

Despite his long absence, the ACT franchise has moved to the top of the Australian conference with three rounds remaining and leads the Rebels by one-point.

Rugby Australia has recently taken over his medical treatment for the injury, which was suffered during the Wallabies’ pre-season camp in Sydney back in January.

But with the World Cup less than four months away, Pocock could be wrapped in cotton wool even if the Brumbies make the finals with the star back-rower seen as a vital figure in Michael Cheika’s ambitions for the tournament.

It’s also believed last year’s John Eales Medal winner will confirm that he will link up with Robbie Deans’ Panasonic Wild Knights in the Japanese Top League following the World Cup for his third season.

Pocock’s return to the Wild Knights is a part of his flexible deal that he signed in March 2016, which involved playing for the Japanese heavyweights in the 2016/17, 2017/18 seasons and the 2020 season.

But the 31-year-old veteran of 77 Tests is likely to confirm that he is also calling time on his Super Rugby career, which will end his seven year association with the Brumbies since switching to the two-time champions from the Western Force.

During that time, Pocock has missed 57 Super Rugby matches for the Brumbies (not including his sabbatical in 2017) while playing just 43.

He suffered season-ending knee injuries in 2013 and 2014, while he’s been restricted to just three matches in 2019.

Whether he continues at the Wild Knights beyond the 2020 season is not yet known.

He will, however, be eligible to continue playing for the Wallabies though as he has passed the 60-cap, seven-year threshold required to play for the national side.