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11 players you may not have realised are retiring

By Ian Cameron
11 notable retirees that maybe you didn't realise were retiring.

When you’re a big name in rugby, you’re retirement will make the headlines. The Freddy Michalaks, Conrad Smiths and Isa Necewas of this world rightly deserve the plaudits bestowed upon them when they called time on their careers.

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However for every big name there are many ‘biggish names’, ‘club servants’, squad players, forgotten internationals; and even some player who simply continued playing to the point where we’ve all forgotten how good they once were.

While their retirements will be strongly felt fans of their respective clubs and of course, their family and friends, the wider rugby community might be forgiven for completely missing the fact that they are hanging up their boots.

Continue reading below…

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This is a list of those players.

Alasdair Strokosch

Strokosch finishes his career in France this season, and you’ll be minded that the former Edinburgh and Gloucester forward won 47 caps for Scotland, his last coming in 2015.

Julien Pierre

Pau’s Julien Pierre was in and out of the French pack for a number of years, playing for Clermont, La Rochelle and Bourgoin on the way to 27 French caps.

Lifeimi Mafi

Lifeimi Mafi was an ever-present with Munster where he earned 144 caps before decamping to France. He retires after six years at Perpignan.

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Scott Lawson

After a career which has brought more than a century of appearances for Newcastle Falcons and 47 international caps for Scotland, hooker Scott Lawson will retire from professional rugby at the end of the current season.

Jocelino Suta

Suta earned six caps for France but is probably more famous for his 233 appearances for Toulon over the space of a decade at the club.

Florian Fritz

Tough as nails Toulouse centre Florian Fritz hangs up his boots this season. He made a remarkable 379 appearances for the club and 34 for France.

Grégory Lamboley

While he finished his career at La Rochelle the backrow will be remembered for his 321 Toulouse caps and 14 French caps.

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Ally Hogg

Hogg has announced he will retire from professional rugby at the end of the current season after a career which has included 48 Scotland caps and 175 appearances for Newcastle Falcons.

David Seymour

Probably unlucky not to have won any England XVs caps, the backrow made 196 appearances for the Sharks, scoring 19 tries. A former England Under-21 international, he also won a silver medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games Rugby Sevens tournament in Melbourne as part of England’s squad.

Ryan Grant

A British and Irish Lions, Grant is retiring from rugby at the age of just 32 which is relatively middleaged for a prop. Grant joined Glasgow on a short-term deal but didn’t see much game time due to injury and retires with 25 Scotland caps.

Brian Mujati

The former Springbok and Northampton Saints stalwart hung up his boots this season after battling to regain his fitness while at the Ospreys in the Pro14. Famous for vlogging, his love of homebrewing and bodybuilding – Mujati revealed his official retirement during a youtube video after stints at Racing 92. Sale Sharks and latterly the Ospreys. One of Europe’s most formidable scrummagers on his day.

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Trevor 52 minutes ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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B
Bull Shark 4 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
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