Eales announces retirement from international rugby

Australian rugby captain John Eales said today that he would retire from rugby union next month.

Australian rugby captain John Eales said today that he would retire from rugby union next month.

Eales said the Wallabies' Tri Nations Test against New Zealand at the Sydney Olympic stadium on September 1st would be his last match for hiscountry.

"I just knew it was time and I was ready for another challenge," the Wallaby leader said.

"Rugby has been fantastic and it will always be a special part but there comes a time to move on in certain parts of your life."

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The 31-year-old lock has played 83 Tests, winning two World Cups and helping the Wallabies to claim every major international trophy.

Eales made his retirement official at the launch of his biography in Brisbane today.

He said he agonised over the decision for some time and after consulting with family and friends he believed this was the best time to leave theinternational arena.

"At the end of the Lions series I sat back and reassessed my playing future and I decided that I would throw everything into this Tri Nationscampaign before stepping down for good," Eales said.

"It's a decision I'm totally happy with. I've taken a long time considering what I have been doing and I know that it's the right time.

"It's become a lot harder to move away and to have to leave home all the time to play games.

Eales' international career started here against Wales in 1991 after first playing for Queensland the previous year.

The 2-metre tall lock has led his country to a World Cup win, as well as Tri Nations and Bledisloe Cup series victories since taking over as captainin 1996, and he had 39 wins from 52 matches as skipper.

He is the only forward to score more than 100 points international rugby and one of only five players to have won two World Cups.

Australia's recent victory in the British and Irish Lions series assured that Eales had achieved almost all that is possible in international rugby.

AFP