Injured Burke hangs up his boots

Newcastle's Australian full-back Matthew Burke has announced his retirement after failing to recover fully from a knee injury.

Burke, a World Cup winner with Australia in 1999, is 35 and has spent the last seven months recovering from a torn anterior cruciate knee ligament.

He won 81 caps for the Wallabies in a 10-year international career and played 81 times for the Falcons after joining the Kingston Park side in 2004, scoring 430 points.

Burke said: "I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Newcastle, playing my rugby and closing out my career with the Falcons. I look back on my four seasons and hopefully say that I contributed to the team's performance and provided some enjoyment for the fans to come and watch.

"To have played week in, week out with what I thought was one of the best group of supporters of a club, gave me a great sense of pride, and over my time I'd hoped to have repaid them with my commitment to the shirt.

"Playing with some of the game's best talent certainly gave me motivation to continue my rugby and to keep contributing to the game.

"To have experienced the Premiership and the Heineken Cup, and the high standard of play, was a privilege to be part of."