NEWCASTLE Falcons and Australia legend Matthew Burke has announced his retirement from rugby with immediate effect.

The 35-year-old full-back has spent the last seven months recovering from a torn anterior cruciate knee ligament, but after a lengthy and gruelling rehab has reluctantly taken the decision to end his glittering playing career.

A World Cup winner with Australia in 1999, Burke scored a remarkable 24 points against South Africa in the semi-final, before bettering that total with 25 against France in a dramatic final in Cardiff.

A magnificent ten-year international career saw him rack up 81 caps for the Wallabies, with his tally of 878 points being the fifth highest of all time when he retired from Test rugby in June 2004, as well as the second highest in Australian history.

Joining the Falcons in 2004, Burke wrote himself into Newcastle sporting history scoring 26 tries and a total of 430 points in his 81 games, before the injury picked up against Bath last October brought a premature end to an already stellar career.

Speaking on the decision to hang up his boots, 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 Guinness Premiership and the Heineken Cup, and the high standard of play, was a privilege to be part of.

"Some of the memories that will live with me were the Heineken Cup win versus Perpignan at home, beating Wasps at the death with a Dave Walder penalty and nearly getting hyperthermia at the same time, all the supporters that turned out for the Paris game and listening to the South Stand chanting 'Burkey is a Geordie'.

"Kate (his wife) and I will be forever thankful for the support that was given to us and our family over our time in Newcastle. We made some wonderful friends during our stay, and were fortunate to have had this experience."

Club chairman Dave Thompson said: "Matt will go down as one of the greatest Falcons of all time.

"As well as being a sensational player who achieved incredibly high standards every time he took the field, the way he conducted himself behind the scenes should serve as an example to all professional players.

"It is quite rare to talk of a foreigner being regarded as a genuine Geordie sporting icon, but during his four seasons with us Matt most definitely achieved that status. He will now embark on the next chapter of his life with his family back in Australia, but he will forever be a Falcon."

Newcastle director of rugby, Steve Bates, added: "I was fortunate enough to work with Matt this season before his injury, and it is not hard to see why he is held in such high esteem at the club.

"Even after suffering what must have been a devastating blow he remained an incredibly positive presence around the team, and whilst it is a great sadness that a fantastic playing career is now at an end, I'm sure everyone will join me in thanking Matt and wishing him all the best for the future."

Falcons fans will get their chance to say farewell to Burke in early August when he makes an emotional return to Newcastle for a programme of events, with details to be announced in the coming days.

** READ MORE RUGBY UNION NEWS IN TOMORROW'S NORTHERN ECHO **