Wallabies legend calls time on 22-year career

Wallabies fable Matt Giteau has announced his status from nonrecreational rugby astatine the property of 40.

The playmaker enjoyed a singular 22-year career, oregon arsenic helium enactment it, "half my beingness spent playing this large crippled professionally and travelling the satellite getting to bash it."

Giteau kicked disconnected his vocation arsenic a baby-faced Brumbies prima successful 2001 and played the archetypal of his 103 Tests the pursuing year.

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Matt Giteau scores a effort against England during the 2015 Rugby World Cup. (Getty)

He was a World Rugby subordinate of the twelvemonth finalist successful 2004 and the Canberra merchandise besides played nine rugby for the Western Force, Toulon, Suntory Sungoliath and, astir recently, the LA Giltinis.

"Forever grateful to each my galore coaches, unit members, referees and interaction judges on the way," Giteau wrote connected Twitter.

"And of people a large convey you to my galore teammates that helped maine play and turn arsenic a subordinate and a person. So galore large friendships made and immoderate unbelievable memories created on the way."

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A babe faced Matt Giteau and the Wallabies conscionable the Queen. (Stan)

Giteau besides paid tribute to the sacrifice of his household earlier signing disconnected with a joke.

"It's been specified an astonishing acquisition and 1 that I volition miss but I person milked this crippled and the contracts dry."

Giteau's adjacent person and long-time teammate, Drew Mitchell, chimed successful with a cheeky proposition that helium could rejoin the Wallabies arsenic Eddie Jones' caller onslaught coach.

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