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End of an era: Fabien Pelous
is hanging up his boots
Photo: Michael Paler |
France and Stade
Toulousain legend Fabien Pelous has confirmed that he will retire from all
rugby at the end of this current season.
Pelous, 35, made his
announcement during an emotional press conference at his club on Thursday
morning, finally
calling time on a career which has brought glory, a record number of French
caps (118) and worldwide recognition of his talents.
The hulking second row
briefly retired last year before strapping on his boots for one more season,
but he looked a beaten man after Stade’s recent Heineken Cup heartbreak in
Cardiff.
"I decided last week,
although this was not an easy decision because I love rugby," he confirmed.
"But it was the right time to stop," he added.
Stade Toulousain
president
Jean-René Bouscatel emphasized that
Pelous' decision to retire had been the player's alone.
Pelous began his rugby
career with amateur clubs Saverdan (1983-91) and SC Graulhet (1991-95)
before signing as a professional with Dax, where he played from 1995-97.
But his hometown club of
Stade Toulousain came calling in 1997 and the giant lock has played there
ever since, winning the Heineken Cup in 2003 and 2005, as well as runners-up
medals in 2004 and 2008, and the French Championship three times (1999, 2001
and 2008).
He made his
international debut against Romania on October 17th 1995 and he
went on to win a record 118 caps in all before retiring after the 2007 Rugby
World Cup. He captained ‘Les Bleus’ on 42 occasions – including to a Grand
Slam in 2004, one of a French record of four that he won - but missed leading them in the RWC after an ankle injury
sidelined him in the run up to the tournament, allowing Raphael Ibanez to
step into the breach and retain the job.
Pelous was also blighted
by a knee injury at the tail end of 2005, but he still passed Philippe
Sella’s 111 caps when France played England in Marseille in August 2007.
He has flirted with the
idea of going into politics previously, and also has a vineyard venture in
conjunction with French footballer Djibril Cisse, but it seems his future
could be in coaching after he joined the France ‘A’ set up back in January.
Stade Toulousain have
already signed his long-term replacement with the capture, earlier this
season, of Toulon's Yoann Maestri.
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Pelous was accompanied
at his press conference by the Stade Toulousain chairman
Jean-René Bouscatel and coach Guy Noves.
Meanwhile, the defending
Top 14 champions have confirmed that Saturday’s home match against Bourgoin
is another sell out at the Stade Ernest-Wallon. It means that Stade
Toulousain will have put up the ‘house full’ sign in 12 of their 16 home
matches this season, confirming the enduring appeal of the club.
