Derren Witcombe had already contemplated life after rugby two years ago, so it wasn't a complete surprise when a second neck injury left retirement as the only healthy option.

The five-test All Blacks hooker announced his premature retirement on Monday, an unfortunate outcome for the 28-year-old who had played himself back into All Blacks reckoning given Anton Oliver's decision to stay in France after the World Cup.

A collapsed scrum -- the occupational hazard for a front rower -- during the opening round Air NZ Cup clash with Counties Manukau proved the end point of his first class career.

Witcombe walked off Eden Park with a tingling sensation in his arm though having already been taken off Jade Stadium immobilised in a brace two seasons earlier he realised the latest problem was not as serious.

"This injury is the next level down. The last one was more acute, a little bit worse but seeing as I've done another injury they can't operate again," Witcombe said.

"It's too risky to carry on."

The timing could not have been worse considering his form in the Super 14 for the Blues and then the Junior All Blacks but as the former Northlander astutely pointed out: "I didn't want to end up lying on a bed for the rest of my life.

"You have to look after your health and your future at the end of the day.

"A lot of players are unfortunate to have recurring injuries -- shoulders and things like that. I'm just one with a bad neck."

Witcombe had no gripe with the scrummaging facet of the game, though he doubted the worth of changing the rules of engagement by adding the "touch" phase before pause and engage.

"It hasn't really changed anything. I didn't see the point in adding another word," he told Radio Sport.

Witcombe, who made his provincial debut for Northland in 2001, transferred to Auckland two years later.

He made his Blues debut in 2002, playing 53 times for the franchise and made his test debut against Fiji in 2005 before featuring in four more tests off the bench.

Witcombe admitted the medical advice was still "sinking in" and no longer turning out for his adopted province would leave a void of sorts in his life.

Auckland have responded by offering to keep him involved in the periphery from the remainder of the campaign.

"D was in a couple of times this week. What role he play's is totally up to him," coach Pat Lam said.

"He's part of our leadership group ... he'd done analysis with our scrums, with our lineouts, and he's a mentor for our young guys.

"All the guys that are injured, they are still part of the family and they come and contribute at different times, so the door is open for them and they enjoy coming in."

With his weekends now free Witcombe has plenty of time to consider a new career, though it will not be rushed into.

The former forestry worker flirted with real estate during his last rehabilitation and may revisit that.

"I sat down with my partner and had a chat about what I'm going to do. I don't want to rush into anything."

Witcombe and his partner Lenska are planning to marry in November so he will be looking for a measure of security, though he is still contracted to the New Zealand Rugby Union.

"I'm still sorting out the contractual side of things with the NZRU, we'll see what happens there," he said.

One difficulty is Witcombe could not be insured after his first injury so he does not have that contingency as a back-up.

"No one would insure me, I can understand that -- I was too much of a risk.

"It's bloody frustrating but I can't do anything about it," Witcombe said of being pensioned off before his time.

"There's no point kicking yourself when you're down."