Rugby: New Zealander Sam Whitlock will retire at the end of the season

Second-row player Sam Whitlock, two-time world champion with the All Blacks (2011 and 2015), will retire from the sport at the end of the season in which he plays in France with Pau (14th place), his club announced on Tuesday. New Zealand Federation.

Whitelock, 35 years old and more of the history of the All Blacks (153 selections), will rejoin the section in December, after the defeat of New Zealand in the final of the 2023 World Cup in France face to face South Africa.

“I have had some discussions with my wife Hannah and three children about what the future holds. It is time to close the rugby chapter,” Whitlock said in the union's press release.

The second row (2.02m, 117kg), who began his professional career in 2008 with the Canterbury Crusaders franchise, has signed with PAO, who are managed by his brother Luke, until June 2025.

“I think what I'm most excited about now is spending more time with my kids and my wife and watching them play sports. And being able to go to school cross country and all that.”

He won Super Rugby five times with the Crusaders, and also won the Rugby Championship (formerly known as the Tri or Four Nations) seven times.

With Department Baloise, who currently sits in seventh place in the top 14, he has played eight matches this season.

He also confirmed in a press release issued by FC Bjarne: “I have two concerns today: ending my season with Pau at my best level and not spending the year for a long time.” He added: “I'm lucky enough to be able to make the decision to end my career and I want it to end well.”

In recent weeks, Scott Robertson, the new All Blacks coach and his former coach at the Crusaders, has approached the second row without success, only to return under the Ferns mantle this summer to pass on his experience to the new team. generation.