France hooker Raphael Ibanez has announced his retirement from international rugby with immediate effect.
Hooker brings down curtain on international career
France hooker Raphael Ibanez has announced his retirement from international rugby with immediate effect.
It means the Wasps star, 34, is left stranded on 98 caps for his country - 41 of those coming as captain.
Ibanez skippered France at both the 1999 World Cup and last year's showpiece in his homeland and won four Six Nations titles during his international career.
He confirmed the news at a press conference in his home town of Dax on Thursday, where he said a conversation with France head coach Marc Lievremont made up his mind.
"We have a good relationship, stemming from our playing days together with France, so we were able to have a very open and honest discussion of the plans Marc has for the future of the French team," said Ibanez, the world's most-capped hooker.
"Marc's plans centre around bringing in new young faces to take France forward.
"I respect that, and fully support his decision and plans, but that informed my decision to retire.
"My decision has been guided by the intentions of the new French coaching team.
"I like to think that I still have enough good rugby inside me to have played again for France, and to have reached the 100 mark.
"That would have been nice and a great achievement for me, but of course the coaches have to think of the bigger picture.
"I wish the French team all the best for the future."
Ibanez will continue his club rugby career with Guinness Premiership outfit Wasps, but becomes the third member of France's World Cup squad to call time on the international game, following in the footsteps of Fabien Pelous and Christophe Dominici.
He made his debut in a Test match against Wales in March 1996, with his last cap coming in the bronze-medal play-off defeat to Argentina at the Parc des Princes in last year's World Cup.
"There are some highlights that stand out," Ibanez added. "For our grand slam in 1998, I was made captain when nobody really knew who I was.
"It was my first big Test start, and I led my team out for the first time against England, facing the man who is now on my side (at Wasps), Lawrence Dallaglio, who was captain of England that day.
"Getting to the World Cup final, and playing the All Blacks in the semi-final at Twickenham is another great moment that will stay with me.
"But playing and winning last year's Six Nations is probably one of my biggest achievements, especially after I had stepped down from international rugby in 2003.
"It was one of the biggest challenges of my career."
