Brumbies elder statesman's career could be over

The career of Australia’s oldest Super Rugby player appears to be over after Brumbies hooker Josh Mann-Rea suffered a serious knee injury.

Mann-Rea left the field during the Brumbies’ 19-17 win over Stormers at the weekend with the 38-year-old suspected to have torn his anterior cruciate ligament.

The injury typically requires nine months of rehabilitation.

The two-Test Wallaby is off-contract at the end of the season.

Mann-Rae joined former Brumbies George Smith and Radike Samo, earlier this season, as the only Australians to play Super Rugby past the age of 38.

He was a later bloomer who made his Super Rugby debut at the NSW Waratahs as a 32-year-old in 2012, and has been at the Brumbies for the past seven seasons.

Despite being largely used as reserve throughout his career, Mann-Rea made his international debut against South Africa in 2014, but only played one more Test.

Back-up hooker Connal McInerney has flown to Argentina to join the Brumbies for their clash against the Jaguares in Buenos Aires on Sunday.

– AAP