NEW ZEALAND women’s rugby international Grace Steinmetz has been forced into medical retirement at the age of 26.
Steinmetz was swiftly told that she could “never play again” after scans revealed a brain injury diagnosis.
She was capped three times by the Black Ferns after making her debut against Australia in 2022.
Steinmetz, who is the niece of former All-Black Paul Steinmetz, announced her retirement on Instagram.
She wrote: “Not how I pictured my rugby career coming to an end.
“Scans have come back showing a brain injury that means I need to hang the boots up, medically retire and never play rugby again.
“Grateful that my health is still intact and we found out before it was too late.
“This game and the people within it have done so much for me, and I am super grateful for the last seven years I have had in this sport.
“Thank you to everyone who has been part of my journey and supported me along the way. I will understand one day.”
Steinmetz initially played for Wellington and in Japan in the sevens format before shifting to 15s rugby with Canterbury.
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She most recently joined Super League team Chiefs Manawa.
Head injuries are a serious issue in rugby, with a class action lawsuit currently underway from a group of British players.
The players are claiming damages against the Welsh Rugby Union, Rugby Football Union and World Rugby for negligence, after they sustained brain damage through playing the sport.
Steinmetz is also a qualified barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand.
She has established her own sports management agency, Athlete Advantage, and earned her real estate licence last year.
The natural full-back got engaged to fellow rugby star Rameka Poihipi earlier this year.
Her fiance plays for the Maori All Blacks, which is often seen as a stepping stone to the All Blacks national team.
The couple, who will be married in December, met in Christchurch when Steinmetz was studying at the University of Canterbury.
Meanwhile, the Black Ferns face England on Sunday in the next match of their WXV1 campaign.
