An eye injury has forced Wallabies and Waratahs prop Benn Robinson into retirement, he announced on Tuesday.
Robinson is the most capped Waratahs player of all time and is the second-most capped Wallabies prop, behind James Slipper, and will leave behind a great history.
The NSW veteran last played for the Wallabies in 2014, against England at Twickenham.
Robinson has made his way back from a long list of injuries through his career, but ultimately a poke to the eye against the Brumbies was the final straw.
Initially not thought to be a major concern, Robinson sought medical advice and was told, pulling curtains on his career.
He will leave a significant legacy at the Waratahs after 148 caps with the club, having mentored the next generation of props, and maintaining a critical role in their scrum against adversity this season.
Robinson has done plenty of work off the field to raise awareness of concussion prevention and treatment.
Tributes flowed in for Robinson on tuesday morning from coaches and former teammates alike.
.@benn_robbo announces his retirement from rugby. What a stellar career! pic.twitter.com/naxNi9T5i2
— RUGBYcomau (@rugbycomau) June 7, 2016
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said Robinson had left a mark for emerging props to aspire towards.
"Every player who has the honour of playing for the Wallabies has a responsibility to leave their own special mark on the jersey for the next generation to shape and build on, which Benn has certainly done," he said.
"He should be incredibly proud of what he achieved in his career, and excited about what lies ahead."
In a RUPA statement, Wallabies back Adam Ashley-Cooper praised Robinson for his impact on and off the field.
“My memories on the field are of Robbo being one of the absolute best in the business; his ability to get over the ball was like no other prop, and he has done some truly special things in both the Waratahs and Wallabies jerseys,” he said.
“Seeing him there with his cute little headgear on as I ran past him on to the field of play used to give me such a lift; he’s certainly somebody you wanted to play alongside.
“Cat was a great team player and more importantly a better team mate.”
Robinson has had a strong involvement in RUPA and Ashley-Cooper said he would be a success in whatever he chose to do next.
