Cannon, 34, has suffered two serious neck injuries over the past 12 months. A scrum malfunction in last year's Super 14 match against the Highlanders in Dunedin resulted in a long stint on the sidelines after neck surgery.

Most recently, a scrum collapse in the 70th minute of the Force's match against the Crusaders in Christchurch on April 7 saw Cannon remain motionless on the turf.

The veteran rake was stretchered from the field complaining of numbness in his left arm. He was released from hospital the next day but upon further consultation with specialist, Dr Quentin Malone, Cannon has been advised to retire from rugby.

"I really didn't have any option," he said. "As much as I wanted to play on and represent the Emirates Western Force and the Wallabies, I really couldn't," Cannon said.

"It would have been very silly of me to tempt fate again, particularly with a much greater risk of permanent injury," he said.

"And, to be honest, I didn't want to jeopardise my future as a good husband and father, so the decision was really driven by my commitment to my family."

Dr Malone indicated that Cannon's neck injury should not keep him from living a normal and healthy life.

In a glittering career, Cannon made his Wallabies debut against the British Lions in 2001 and was an integral member of Australia's World Cup squad in 2003, going on to claim 42 Test caps.

The Brisbane-born front-rower represented Australia at under 19 and under 21 level and went on to play for three Super 14 teams.

He kicked off his senior career with the Reds in the inaugural year of Super Rugby in 1996, and racked up 19 Super Rugby appearances for Queensland, before switching to New South Wales where he played 69 matches.

As a mark of his value in the game, Cannon was the first player signed by the Western Force franchise and captained the team against the Waratahs and has played a dozen more for the Western Force taking his tally over 100 Super Rugby matches.

Cannon said that while had recently committed to another year with the Emirates Western Force and had hoped to represent Australia at the 2007 World Cup, he had no regrets about the decision to retire.

"I feel very privileged to have competed at the elite level for so many years, and to have met and played with so many wonderful people," he said.

"I never really expected to play one Super game of rugby never mind 100, and the honour of wearing the Wallabies jersey will always stay with me," he said.

"I consider myself pretty lucky to have had so many amazing experiences, so it's not really a moment of sadness but one of celebration – of being grateful for the opportunities that came my way.

"Of course, I will miss the camaraderie and the mateship. I will miss the thrill of game day and singing the anthem before representing my country."

"And while I am sad that they will now become just memories, they will always be special moments that I can reflect on and, indeed, was privileged to have."

Cannon said being an inaugural Western Force squad member was also one of the highlights of his career and he hoped to stay involved with the club for at least the remainder of this year.

"Peter O'Meara, John Mitchell and the boys, we've all been building something pretty special there and I would like to continue to help in whatever way I can in the foreseeable future, at least," he said.

Sportal