Wallaby Elton Flatley retires

March 16, 2006

Sad news. Rugby Planet is reporting the premature retirement from all rugby of Elton Flatley. The fly-half started for the Wallabies in their World Cup final overtime loss in 2003, and who knows...? Had that OT gone the other way, Flatley might have been promoted as the sport's golden boy. As it is, we now have the two starting #10's from the last RWC final out of the sport altogether (albiet that's my own speculation about Johnny Wilkinson).

Flatley retires from all rugby

Thursday March 16 2006

Queensland Rugby have announced that veteran Wallaby and Reds playmaker Elton Flatley will retire from all rugby, effective immediately, due to continued problems blurred vision.

The 28-year-old suffered a head injury last year which kept him out for most of the season, but with medical staff monitoring his condition, he was hopeful of a successful return this year.

Following the Super 14 match against the Western Force last Saturday, medical staff were made aware that Flatley was still suffering blurred vision. Team doctor, Dr Richard Brown, and Flatley met earlier this week and agreed that it would be in his best interests to retire.

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Source: Rugby Planet

UPDATE: Greg Crowden writing in the Sydney Morning Herald:

IT IS no surprise that a multitude of leading Australian players have expressed deep regret that Elton Flatley was forced to retire. There have been few more popular Wallabies in recent times. While Flatley is best known as a quality five-eighth and inside-centre for Australia and Queensland, more importantly you could not meet a more admirable and amiable person. He respected the Wallabies jersey, will always be remembered for keeping Australia in the 2003 World Cup final with outstanding goalkicking under pressure, and, unlike some big-heads he played with, was forever modest and unassuming. In recent years, football had become hard for Flatley after experiencing several serious head knocks which caused him continued blurred vision. Medical advice this week convinced him that it was in his best interests to retire. Lote Tuqiri summed it up perfectly yesterday when he said: "Great player, great bloke, he's going to be missed by pretty much everyone."