Shocked Queensland hooker Tom Murphy said he had no choice but to quit rugby union on Thursday after struggling with a serious neck injury.

Murphy has been experiencing pins and needles and a loss of flexibility in his feet and scans revealed two discs encroaching on a spinal curve.

The 30-year-old, who was the Reds' first-choice hooker last season, told his teammates today his rugby career was over just three weeks before the opening Super 12 clash.

"The doctors made it pretty clear that I was risking long-term damage if I played on," Murphy said.

"It's a shock and it probably hasn't sunk in yet but it wasn't a hard decision to make.

"It's going to be a hard decision to accept.

"I've reached a stage in my career where I feel I've get a lot from rugby and I'm not going to push the envelope at my age.

"I can concentrate on my career now and that's exciting as well."

Murphy has a well-established banking career after completing studies at Cambridge University and the University of Queensland.

He still faces the possibility of surgery but will at least be free of the enormous pressure forced on the body by rugby scrums.

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