Australian Rugby
Former Wallaby Rogers retires
Scrum.com
August 16, 2010

Former Wallaby Mat Rogers has announced his retirement from professional rugby. The dual-code international has spent the last four seasons playing in the NRL with Gold Coast Titans, having won 45 caps for Australia in union after crossing codes in 2002.

Rogers began his career in the 13-man-code with Cronulla, winning the rugby league World Cup in 2000. He also played five games for Queensland at State of Origin level before defecting to union.

At Super Rugby level he represented the Waratahs and won his debut Test cap against France in June 2002. He then secured a remarkable double by playing in the Rugby World Cup final in 2003 - this time losing out to England.

"I feel like I can compete still but I think the time's right to go out," he said. "I think if I'm questioning whether I can go on or not next year the time's right."

Rogers will take up a backstage role at the Titans following his retirement but current Reds coach Ewen McKenzie is hanging on to the hope that the utility back will cross codes for a second time and complete his Super 15 roster in 2011.

"He called me this morning to tell me he was retiring and I told him just to announce his retirement from rugby league," McKenzie told AAP. "You never know, in six months time, in February or January, he might be looking to do something. My job is to find the best solution to the Reds and I was scouring the world to find the right person to build our depth."

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