Wednesday 27 July 2016 11:32, UK
Catalans Dragons winger Pat Richards has decided he will retire at the end of the season, despite having another year left on his contract.
The 34-year-old former Man of Steel, who has scored more than 3,000 points over 16 seasons in the NRL and Super League, was under contract until the end of the 2017.
Richards had an eight-year spell at Wigan, when he twice won the Super League and the Challenge Cup.
He was awarded Man of Steel Award in 2010, when he finished as the season's top point scorer with 434 points.
In 2014, Richards returned to the Wests Tigers in Australia where he made 43 NRL appearances, scoring 26 tries and 342 points.
He has also played at international level for Ireland, winning seven caps, including at the World Cup, scoring three tries and scoring 34 points.
Catalans Dragons head coach Laurent Frayssinous said: "I'm disappointed to see a so great player, with so much class on and off the field, hanging up his boots.
