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Quiet exit for Wallaby great
One of Australia’s greatest players has confirmed his time is up in Wallaby gold, speaking to foxsports.com.au inside centre Matt Giteau has predicted his last game for Australia has already been played.
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“I haven’t officially retired,” Giteau said.
“I haven’t made a big song and dance and a big banner or anything that says, ‘I’m retired.’
“I don’t know if I see the need to do that.
“There are better players than me in my position in Australian rugby.
“When you’ve got that and you can recognise that, I think that’s a clear enough sign that your time is up, for me, internationally.”
The 35-year-old centre is still playing in the Japan Top League for Suntory Sungoliath after a 16-year career which saw him win a Super Rugby title with the Brumbies in 2004, play in two Rugby World Cup finals with the Wallabies (2003, 2015), a stint with the now exiled Western Force, three European titles with glamour club Toulon (2013, 2014, 2015) and a Top 14 French league title (2014). He added a Japan Top League title to his resume when Suntory won in January.
His decorated 103 test career will also be remembered for the ‘Giteau’ rule, brought in specifically so he could be eligible for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, despite playing for Toulon in France. The rule allowed players with at least 60-test caps based overseas to continue playing for the Wallabies.
“I’m just going to keep supporting him and helping out wherever I can, if there is an opportunity to help out,” Giteau said.
“But from a playing point of view, I’d think that’s it.”
Giteau is only one of eight players to play 100 tests for the Wallabies and will go down as one of their best ever players.
