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Rugby Union

Ibanez bids adieu to Les Bleus

10/01/2008

France captain Raphael Ibanez has confirmed his immediate retirement from international rugby at the age of 34.

The hooker, whose announcement comes on the eve of the Six Nations, said he would continue to play for club side London Wasps until the end of the Guinness Premiership season.

But he will not be adding to the 98 caps he earned during a 13-year international career.

"Today, it's time for me to move on. My career with Les Bleus is over," he told a press conference at his hometown of Dax according to the Reuters news agency.

Ibanez added that he was in talks about returning to the national setup in a coaching capacity.

"French Federation chairman Bernard Lapasset also said he wanted to discuss a long-term project with me," he explained. "I haven't made up my mind yet."

Ibanez, whose career has seen stints at Dax, Perpignan, Castres, Saracens and Wasps, captained the French side that lost in the 1999 World Cup final to Australia, while last year he saw his side crash out in the semi-final stage to England in Paris.

He also has four Six Nations titles to his name (1998, 2002, 2006, 2007).

Fellow 2007 World Cup squad members Fabien Pelous and Christophe Dominici have already announced their international retirement.