Aussie great calls time on 'extraordinary' career

1 year ago 81

Australian rugby large Liz Patu has retired from the Wallaroos after a record-breaking career.

Patu, 33, was calved successful New Zealand and raised successful Samoa earlier moving to Australia successful 2004.

With 33 Tests to her name, the prop retires arsenic the astir capped player successful Wallaroos history.

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"My determination to discontinue has travel from a assortment of factors, but ultimately, I'd similar to instrumentality clip for myself and my intelligence health," Patu said.

"I'm truthful grateful to the friends, household and coaches that person supported maine passim my rugby career. It means the satellite to me, arsenic a subordinate of Pacific Islander descent, to beryllium capable to decorativeness my Wallaroos vocation arsenic the astir capped subordinate and honour those who person gone earlier me.

"I anticipation to proceed my engagement with rugby done pursuing coaching opportunities and playing Super W."

Patu - who debuted for Australia against New Zealand successful 2014 - volition play for the Queensland Reds successful 2023.

She was named Wallaroos skipper successful 2018 but mislaid the relation aft a biting ungraded successful 2019.

Patu was fixed a six week prohibition for biting Wallaroos teammate Rebecca Clough successful a Super W lucifer but showed remorse and fought her mode backmost into the nationalist team.

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"Liz's resilience successful the look of adversity has been extraordinary, and she has been a pillar of enactment for the younger players successful the Wallaroos squad," Rugby Australia main enforcement Andy Marinos said.

"Liz leaves arsenic our astir capped, and 1 of our top Wallaroos – her determination is 2nd to nary and her caller show crossed the World Cup successful New Zealand was extraordinary."

Patu's status connected Thursday follows that of teammate Iliseva Batibasaga connected Wednesday.

"The strides that women's rugby has made, and that it volition marque it the coming years are owed successful nary tiny portion to Wallaroos legends similar Liz Patu, Iliseva Batibasaga and those that person travel earlier them," Marinos said.

"I cognize that Liz's determination volition beryllium felt by Wallaroos coaching unit and players alike, and we privation her each the champion going forward."

Wallaroos manager Jay Tregonning besides paid tribute successful a RA statement.

"I see it a large privilege to person been contiguous for some Liz's archetypal and past Test matches," Tregonning said.

"Back successful 2013, Liz commanded the tract arsenic a ascendant No.8 for Queensland astatine the nationalist championships, and arsenic portion of my relation arsenic a forwards coach, we discussed a imaginable positional alteration to the beforehand row.

"Her dedication to betterment and large tendency to beryllium a Wallaroo earned her a debut successful 2014. Now, leaving the programme arsenic the astir capped Wallaroo of each time, Liz's accomplishments are testament to her enactment ethic and enactment skills.

"It is my anticipation that Liz continues to lend to the improvement of Queensland's rugby programs and passes connected her acquisition to the up-and-coming rugby stars of the future."

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