Wallabies star Mat Rogers says he briefly quit rugby union following the death of his rugby league legend father Steve last month.

Rogers has been back in training but has yet to play this Super 14 season with the NSW Waratahs and has missed their current trip to South Africa.

He said the sudden death of his 51-year-old father, the Cronulla Sharks boss and former Test centre who had been suffering from depression, prompted him to retire for a short time.

"I actually quit ... on one day," the 30-year-old dual international told Nine News.

"Obviously I'm going through a divorce and stuff at the same time, which doesn't make things too much easier.

"But I thought 'I've had enough, I can't handle all this'."

Rogers has since undergone counselling to help him come to terms with his father's passing and he now wants to play again.

"I need footy because it's such a big part of Dad's and my life," he said.

"It's all I've had."

Rogers tearfully recalled the last time he spoke to his father.

"We had a chat. I asked him if everything was okay, if everything was fine.

"I feel so sorry for those moments before everything went dark for him ... you know, what he was thinking, what he was trying to do.

"I sort of wish I was there for him."

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