News: Former France captain Ibanez retires; Haskell denies money was behind his move

The London Wasps skipper, who was capped 98 times by France, decided enough was enough after consultation with club doctors following a series of ‘complex concussions’ this season.

“We are all agreed that to avoid a bad injury it is time for me to stop playing,” said Ibanez. “I tried everything to come back onto the pitch but it is just too risky,” he added.

Ibanez, 36, has had a glittering career at the highest level and won a bucket load of silverware at the English club after crossing the Channel in 2003, initially to join Saracens. The French hooker moved to Wasps in 2005 and collected winners’ medals in the Powergen Cup, the Heineken Cup and the Guinness Premiership during his time at Adams Park.

The veteran international first suffered concussion against Worcester Warriors in September, before further head injuries against both Leinster and Sale in November. He returned to training after two months’ rest but visited a neurosurgeon and neurologist last week after his symptoms recurred, prompting Tuesday’s decision to hang up his boots.

Ibanez began his professional career with Dax – his hometown club – before progressing on to Perpignan, Castres and Saracens.

He made his international debut against Wales in 1996 and captained France’s Grand Slam side of 1998. The following year he was part of the French team which reached the World Cup final, and in 2007 he captained the side to triumph in the Six Nations championship.

His thirst for the game was evident by his return from initial international retirement in 2005 – after stepping down in 2003 – but he finally quit the French national team following the 2007 World Cup in his homeland.

Now he has finished playing altogether, capping a miserable 48 hours for Wasps following the triple defection of Riki Flutey, James Haskell and Tom Palmer to play in France next season.

Their decisions have prompted predictable angst in England, with reactions varying from the hysterical to the measured as the true impact of the signings sunk in.

Mark Rigby, the club’s executive chairman, sounded a defiant note when he said the players’ departure didn’t alter the fact the Guinness Premiership was still “the best domestic league in the Northern Hemisphere”, although he did admit the signings confirmed a shift in power.

“It does raise great concern that French clubs can now blow the English clubs away when it comes to salaries and it is clear that in financial terms we are no longer on a level playing field,” he said.

Ian McGeechan, director of rugby at Wasps, was one of several voices now calling for England not to pick players who move abroad, in an echo of the selection policies of Australia, New Zealand and Wales.

“I think the obvious thing is to say they would expect England players to be playing in the Premiership. Then a player not only has to make a financial decision, he has to make an international decision about his career,” he said.

Bath coach Steve Meehan – formerly assistant coach at Stade Francais – also added his voice to the debate.

“Are they the only guys who are going to go or is it the tip of the iceberg? I’m sure that’ll be the question they’re asking at headquarters. Other countries have said that, if you’re playing, for example, in England, you won’t play for the Wallabies or the All Blacks,” he said.

“I don’t think they’ll make that decision too hastily but who knows? It wouldn’t be a case of restraint of trade because selection policies are up to individual unions,” added Meehan.

Haskell, meanwhile, denied his decision had been purely about finances.

“Some people will criticise me for going to France because they will say I am following the money. To be honest, that was the last of my considerations in going to France,” he said.

“A lot of the offers from British clubs and Wasps were very competitive, but it was a decision about playing rugby. Playing for England was my top priority and I would never have moved if I wasn’t able to do that. The reason I play rugby has always been to play for England,” he added.

And Haskell allayed fears his transfer would negate the financial agreement between Premiership clubs and the RFU to ensure release for England training squads.

“Luckily with the contract with Stade Francais all my release dates, all my EPS contract is written into my agreement, so there will be no excuses not to be involved,” he said.

Haskell and Palmer will be joined at Stade Francais next season by Leicester’s French hooker Benjamin Kayser, who has signed a two-year deal to return to the club he left in 2007.

And while Brive’s capture of Flutey hogged many of the headlines on Tuesday the England centre wasn’t the only new signing confirmed by the Top 14 side.

South African prop Scott Zimmermann has also signed a two-year contract to join from Pro D2 outfit Bourg-en-Bresse in the summer, while Irish lock Damien Browne has committed for a further two years.

Browne’s extension follows similar deals for South African Antonie Claassen and the French coaching duo of Ugo Mola and Christophe Laussucq.

The club also continue to be linked with Leicester’s Irish international Geordan Murphy.

Elsewhere, Montauban are said to be at an advanced stage of discussions with FC Auch Gers centre Alexandre Ricaud, while Romanian flanker Ovidiu Tonita has become the latest Perpignan player to extend his stay at the Catalan club.

Tonita has committed to June 2012, following earlier contract extensions for Julien Candelon, Damien Chouly, Gerrie Britz, Philip Burger, Olivier Olibeau and Henry Tuilagi.

On the injury front Bayonne were counting the cost of a training injury to prop Julian Florini this week, with the player now expected to be sidelined for three weeks due to a sprained ankle sustained on Monday.

Stade Francais and France fly-half Lionel Beauxis is also on the crock list after injuring a calf. He will now miss the Friday night home game against Toulon and is also doubtful for France’s match against Wales the following week.