Injury prompts retirement of Jono Gibbes

[lara93]

21st July 2008, 9:15 WST

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Long-serving Chiefs and Waikato lock Jono Gibbes announced his retirement from all rugby as the result of a knee injury.

The former All Black said an on-going injury to his left knee had reached the point where he could not play as well as he wanted to.

“It is a hard thing to come to terms with because my heart is still in the game, but the simple truth is that my knee is no longer up to it,” he said.

[James]

Jeez, over the last two years the Chiefs have lost some major experience in the pack. Tom Willis, Jono Gibbes, Keith Robinson, Steven Bates and Marty Holah.

Perhaps they will start to struggle a bit after this one.

I saw they'd recruited Ole Avei (Digby's nephew) from the Reds for a year. You know you're a struggling New Zealand team when you have to start recruiting Australian front row players.

[The Lone Hydrangea]

This is a surprise. He is a quality player and seems to be a decent bloke to boot. Bad news for the Waikato. All the best to him.

[James]

I'm a bit bored at the moment so I'm making a list of departing players for each team, feel free to add any I've missed:

Blues: Troy Flavell, Nick Evans, Greg Cooper (a. coach)
Brumbies: Laurie Fisher (coach), Anthony Faingaa, Saia Faingaa, Adam Wallace-Harrison, Julian Huxley
Bulls: Derrick Hougaard, Wikus van Heerden (I think)
Cheetahs: Rory Duncan, Darren Nell, Falie Oelschig
Chiefs: Tom Willis, Jono Gibbes, Ben Castle (I think), Simms Davison
Crusaders: Greg Somerville, Campbell Johnstone, Reuben Thorne, Caleb Ralph, Robbie Deans (coach), Daniel Carter (to Perpignan for his 'sabbatical')
Force: Lachlan Mackay, James Hilgendorf, Matt Henjak, Scott Fardy
Highlanders: Hoani MacDonald, Craig Newby
Hurricanes: Jerry Collins, Piri Weepu (touted), Chris Masoe (touted), Shannon Paku
Lions: Joe Van Niekirk
Reds: Rodney Blake, Clinton Schifcofske, Stephen Moore, Chris Latham, Caleb Brown, David Croft, Sam Cordingley, Morgan Turinui (almost certainly), Ole Avei, Ed O'Donoghue
Sharks: None known.
Stormers: Ross Skeate, Francois van der Merwe, Tiaan Liebenberg
Waratahs: Ewen McKenzie (coach), Les Kiss (a. coach), Dan Vickerman, Rocky Elsom, Josh Valentine (touted), Al Kanaar, David Lyons, Alfi Mafi, Ben Jacobs, Sam Harris (I think)

Any help with the list is appreciated.

[BLR]

According to Seldom Stannard is leaving the Force.