As the 2022/23 season draws to a close, Planet Rugby takes a look at the retiring class of 2023 from the stars across the Premiership, United Rugby Championship, Top 14 and Super Rugby Pacific.
While there are bound to be more retirements announced in the coming months, we highlight the careers and achievements of the stars calling it a day.
Premiership stars
15 Stuart Hogg (Exeter Chiefs): A retirement call that surprised everyone. Hogg will play his final games for Exeter in the Premiership and Champions Cup in the coming weeks before he links up with Scotland as they prepare for the 2023 Rugby World Cup. The number of full-backs retiring may increase closer to the World Cup, but Newcastle legend Alex Tait and Harlequins stalwart Aaron Morris have both announced they are hanging up their boots.
14 Chris Ashton (Leicester Tigers): The prolific try-scorer announced that this season would be his last and just days later became the first player to score 100 Premiership tries. He scored a hat-trick against Exeter Chiefs and looks to be finishing off his career in style with the Tigers. Meanwhile, Connacht winger Alex Wootton ends his professional career this year at 28.
French centres
13 Virimi Vakatawa (Racing 92): The France international’s career came to a halt before the season kicked off as he was forced into retirement due to a heart condition. A mesmeric talent, Vakatawa played 32 Test matches for France. Dragons and Wales centre Cory Allen also called time on his career after his injury battles.
12 Remi Lamerat (Bordeaux): After 15 years in the Top 14, Lamerat will hang his boots at the end of the season, having won the Bouclier de Brennus with Toulouse, Castres and Clermont throughout his career. The 19-Test cap centre has played over 150 games in France’s top division.
Test legends
11 Nemani Nadolo (Waratahs): The Flying Fijian confirmed that 2023 will be his final year of rugby. His 15-year-long career has seen him flatten defenders and score tries in England, France, Japan, New Zealand and Australia. The 35-year-old could still feature for Fiji at the Rugby World Cup but will otherwise wrap up his career playing in the sky blue of the Waratahs. Meanwhile, Harlequins stalwart Ross Chisholm will hang up his boots after amassing over 128 appearances during his 14-year long at the club.
10 Johnny Sexton (Leinster): Unfortunately for Sexton, there will be no grand send-off in Leinster blue. The Ireland captain will assist his teammates in the latter stages of the URC and Champions Cup, with his scheduled return from injury date set just before the Rugby World Cup. The veteran playmaker has confirmed that he will bring his illustrious career to an end in France. The two-time British and Irish Lion has played over 100 times for his country and finishes up with 189 Leinster appearances. Meanwhile, Northampton Saints legend and Ospreys fly-half Stephen Myler will also bring his career to a close at the end of the season.
Veteran stars
9 Richard Wigglesworth (Leicester Tigers): There is no shortage of options at scrum-half, with Morgan Parra, Joe Simpson, Will Cliff, Rory Kockott and others all finishing up their careers this season. However, we have chosen Premiership’s most-capped player at number nine. Having retired mid-season to take over the head coach reins on an interim basis at Tigers, Wigglesworth ended his Premiership career with 322 caps.
8 Sergio Parisse (Toulon): The Italian great is set to move into coaching at Toulon once he hangs up his boots for good at the end of the season. While he has left the door ajar for an Italy recall, Parisse is closing in on his final few appearances in what has been an incredible career. Two Premiership club legends, Ben Morgan (Gloucester) and Will Welch (Newcastle Falcons), have also announced that this will be their swansong season.
Stellar flankers
7 Jaco Kriel (Lions): A fan favourite on the Highveld, Kriel was part of the successful Lions team that reached successive Super Rugby finals between 2016 and 2018. The dynamic back-rower went on to earn his Springbok debut and had a stint at Gloucester before returning to Johannesburg. After an injury-hit career, Kriel retires at 33. Another exciting back-rower has unfortunately called time on his career. Scarlets and former Hurricanes back-row Blade Thomson announced he is calling it a day following a head injury. He played 54 times for Scarlets, earned 10 caps for Scotland and won a Super Rugby title with the Hurricanes.
6 Jordi Murphy (Ulster): The 30-Test Ireland back-rower announced his retirement in early April and hangs up his boots, having played 107 times with Leinster before joining Ulster in 2018. He was part of the first Ireland squad that defeated New Zealand in 2016. Italy and Zebre back-rower Johan Meyer also announced that he would bring his career to an end.
Veteran locks
5 Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys): It is yet to be officially confirmed, but the Wales and Lions legend is set to hang up his boots after the Rugby World Cup. The 37-year-old has played over 150 internationals and is Ospreys most capped player with over 250 appearances for the Welsh region.
4 Sebastien Vahaamahina (Clermont): After retiring from international rugby in 2019, Vahaamahina is set to bring his professional career to an end this season. The 31-year-old has suffered from concussions recently and is understood to have already played his final game. Meanwhile, Scarlets lock Josh Helps has retired to pursue a career as a financial advisor. Meanwhile, former Exeter lock Mitch Lees finishes his career up at Brive.
Front-rowers
3 Charlie Faumuina (Toulouse): The 2015 Rugby World Cup winner with New Zealand is closing in on his final games with Toulouse, looking to add to his Champions Cup and two Top 14 titles since joining the side. Former Springbok prop Lourens Adriaanse announced his retirement following his cancer diagnosis. Meanwhile, a neck injury forced Alex Jeffries into retirement.
2 Dane Coles (Hurricanes): The All Blacks hooker is in his final year of professional rugby. A World Cup winner in 2015, Coles has enjoyed an illustrious 17-year long career. The 84-Test hooker has scored 20 tries for the All Blacks and captained the Hurricanes to their maiden Super Rugby title. He is not the only hooker calling it a day, with Stuart McInally ending his rugby career to become a commercial pilot. Connacht and Leinster veterans Shane Delahunt and James Tracy are also finishing up. Finally, Saints legend Mikey Haywood also ends his glittering career.
1 Jack McGrath (Ireland): Finally, the former Leinster, Ulster, Ireland and British & Irish Lions prop called it quits after his battles with injuries. McGrath played 56 times for Ireland and 145 times for Leinster. He was part of the Six Nations triumphs in 2014 and 2015. He later earned a selection for the 2017 Lions tour to New Zealand.
READ MORE: RANKED: The five most feared front-rows in Test rugby
The article Retiring XV: Class of 2023 from the Premiership, Top 14, URC and Super Rugby Pacific appeared first on Planetrugby.com.
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