David Porecki Calls Time on Remarkable Rugby Career
So, there’s been some big news in the world of rugby—David Porecki, the Wallabies and Waratahs hooker, has officially announced his retirement from professional rugby. And it’s come as a bit of a surprise to many, especially with the Rugby Championship right around the corner.
At 32 years old, Porecki has decided to hang up the boots with immediate effect. He’s someone who didn’t follow the usual script in professional rugby. Born and raised in Sydney and starting out as a Seaforth junior, he actually spent a good chunk of his early career overseas—five seasons in the UK with Saracens and London Irish. That was from 2015 to 2020. What’s interesting is that before all that, he had only played one Super Rugby game for the Waratahs back in 2015.
But he made his return to Aussie rugby in 2021, joining the Waratahs again, and that really marked the beginning of his rise on home soil. A year later, in 2022, he finally made his Wallabies debut in a memorable win against England in Perth, earning Wallaby cap number 952. From there, he became a core figure in the national side, known for his precision at set piece and his relentless work ethic.
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One of the major highlights of his career was being named in the 2023 Rugby World Cup squad. After Will Skelton got injured, Porecki stepped up as captain and led the Wallabies in three of their four pool matches. That’s a massive achievement—he became the 88th person to captain the Wallabies.
Unfortunately, 2024 was a rough year for him injury-wise, and he was ruled out for the entire season. But true to his character, he fought his way back and started in the Wallabies' first Test of 2025 against Fiji. His 21st and final appearance came against the British & Irish Lions at the MCG—though he didn’t get to play the last Test due to a cut to his heel during training.
In his own words, Porecki said that representing both the Waratahs and the Wallabies had been a childhood dream, and he’s incredibly proud of living it out. He mentioned it just feels like the right time to step away and focus on his next chapter—especially spending more time with his wife Shani and their three kids, Luca, Charlie, and Billie.
Both Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt and Waratahs head coach Dan McKellar had nothing but praise for him—calling him a quiet achiever, a consummate professional, and a respected leader. While he’ll definitely be missed on the field, there’s a clear sense of admiration for the legacy he's leaving behind.
So, yeah—it’s the end of a significant chapter in Australian rugby. David Porecki’s boots may be off, but the impact he’s made will stick around for a long time.
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