Talismanic France centre Wesley Fofana has revealed 2019 will be his last year of international rugby for Les Bleus.
That means that the 2019 Guinness Six Nations – which gets underway next Friday when France host Wales – will be the final one for Fofana.
The 31-year-old has won 45 caps for his country since his debut back in 2012.
But in recent years injuries have plagued the Clermont man – he has only won one cap since November 2016.
But at his free-flowing best, he was one of the great sights in the modern game – bursting onto the scene with four tries in his first four matches in the 2012 Championship.
He backed that up with two more in the 2013 Championship but, with a Rugby World Cup in Japan on the horizon this autumn, Fofana is ready to call time on his international career.
He said: “It’s all pleasure now, I’m making the most of it because after the World Cup I will stop. I’m doing everything I can to be there, of course, and then I will retire from France.
“Even if I’m not picked for the World Cup, whatever happens, I’ll stop.
“For me it feels natural. I find it’s a good moment to stop. If it was just me, I wouldn’t think about it (he would continue). But I have signed a long-term contract with my club, I have my wife, my children. I want to experience something great until the World Cup, and then I can focus entirely on my club and my family.
“I’ve already spoken to lots of people about it, especially at the club. Once again, it seems natural. I want to pass on everything I can until the World Cup and after the youngsters will carry the torch, I’m not worried about them.”
