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Wallabies centurion Sekope Kepu makes retirement announcement

Sekope Kepu. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
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Wallabies veteran Sekope Kepu has today announced he will retire from international rugby at the end of 2019 following the Rugby World Cup in Japan.

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Kepu became just the ninth Australian test centurion when he played New Zealand in Yokohama last year, and the first-ever Australian prop to bring up the milestone.

The 2019 edition in Japan will be the 33-year old’s third Rugby World Cup before he links with English Premiership side, London Irish, next year.

“It’s going to very special. It’s another massive challenge and something I’m definitely looking forward to, running out in front of family and friends as well as our home fans for the last time this year,” Kepu said.

“I’ll let my wife contact all the friends and relatives that want to come along to the game but it will just be a great day to play against Samoa. It’s going to be a hell of a week and I’m definitely looking forward to it.

“I never thought I would have achieved that milestone [playing 100 Tests] and to have done so, it’s something that makes me feel very privileged and fortunate.

“There’s guys pushing for spots everywhere now. We have quality depth in Australian Rugby and I’ll be looking from afar and just excited about what we have.

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“Guys like Allan [Alaalatoa] and Taniela [Tupou], they have now established themselves at test level and then Scotty [Sio], Slips [James Slipper], Tolu [Latu] and Folau [Fainga’a] and all those guys – and now we can play anyone in that front row and you can guarantee they are going to do the job, no matter who we are playing.”

Kepu made his test debut 11 years ago against Italy in Padova before earning his first test start against Samoa in Sydney in 2011. This Saturday’s test against Samoa at Bankwest Stadium is now set to be his last game on Australian soil.

Kepu’s contribution to Australian Rugby will be celebrated after full-time at Bankwest Stadium on Saturday night with an on-field presentation to mark the centurion’s impact on the game.

– Rugby Australia

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Phantom 1 hour ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

Fact: the gap between the North and the South has narrowed considerably - that I get. However, determining that only selecting only Home grown players or playing in the home country is is the optimal strategy is a bit of a toss up and highly reliant on the economies of the home union. I do understand that England and to a lesser degree Ireland selects home based only. The top 14 is a massive threat to their domestic product. France would probably not be affected (the money is at home). Fiji, Argentina, Samoa, Italy and you could even argue Scotland have only benefitted from this. Their players either go overseas to learn at higher levels (Fiji, Samoa, Argentina) or players coming into their leagues to strengthen the home product and their National teams (Scotland, Italy, Japan).

South Africa used to limit its selection to the home based players, but the reality of a weak currency vs what players could earn oversees meant that you lost access to your best players at some stage of their careers, with very few exceptions. Kolbe left SA as he was considered too small for International Rugby (yes coaches/selectors view), but ironically in France he forced selectors to notice his endeavors and select him. He is only reaching 50 caps now despite being north of 30 - granted rotation and the odd injury also played a role, but for the most part it is having debuted or becoming a regular so late.



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