A chronic neck injury to Brumbies prop Bill Young has cast a doubt over the playing future of the veteran Australia front-rower.
Young has been suffering from the problem for the last three months but managed to struggle through to the end of the Super 14 season in May, and is now assessing the extent of the injury.
"I’m a bit crook at the moment and trying to work things out," Young told the Daily Telegraph.
"I’ve taken a bit of time off to try and get myself right and give myself every opportunity to come good."
According to the 32-year-old, the most worrying side-effect of the injury is numbness in his left arm.
"I lost a lot of strength in my left arm and the numbness in my arm is causing the problem at the moment," said Young.
"Now I’m just weighing up how bad it actually is.
"There is no diagnosis as yet. I’m seeing a few specialists trying to work out what is going to happen and where I go from here."
Despite the seriousness of the situation, the prop is not yet ready to concede he may be forced into retirement.
"I don’t know at this stage," Young admitted. "I’m not jumping the gun. I’ll just wait and see.
"I’m very disappointed where I am at. It’s just a matter of working through it and hopefully getting myself right to get back out there.
"But obviously my health comes first and I’ll have to make sure everything is sorted out."
If Young is able to return to the rugby field he may at least have to admit his international career is over after the emergence of young tight-head props Rodney Blake and Guy Shepherdson in the Wallabies squad this year.
A pragmatic Young has been watching Australia’s recent games against England and Ireland with interest and gave the young guns his support, adding: "It’s good to see them doing so well."
