Aug 30th, 2018

Aug 30th, 2018

Parramatta centre Kirisome Auva'a has today retired from football - at just 26 years of age.

A nagging back injury has resulted in Auva’a’s premature retirement from the game and the shattered Samoan international told teammates of his decision this morning.

"My back has been bad for several years and even after surgery a couple of years ago, I’ve had problem after problem," Auva'a told Wide World of Sports.

(AAP)

"I’m thinking about quality of life after football and it’s a tough call but I believe it to be the right one.

"I’ve only managed a handful of games this season and it has been tough."

Auva'a made front page news in 2014 when he plead guilty to a domestic assault on his ex-girlfriend.

A judge put him on a two-year good behaviour bond and the NRL suspended him for nine months.

But Auva’a is a changed man.

He has found God and hopes to go on a Mormon mission next year.

"I have put in the papers and want to do God’s work and help people," he said.