Pelous reveals international retirement
Wednesday, 7 November 2007 16:27France lock Fabien Pelous has confirmed he is quitting international rugby with immediate effect.
The Toulouse veteran, whose last game for Les Bleus came against England in the World Cup semi-final last month, amassed a national record 118 caps for his country.
Only Australia scrum-half George Gregan, with 139 caps, has made more international appearances than Pelous, who made his debut for France in 1995 against Romania.
He will continue playing club rugby for Toulouse until the end of the season.
'I started playing for France 12 years ago, 12 years in which I have experienced some great things, but everything comes to an end,' the 33-year-old said at a press conference at the French rugby federation headquarters in Paris.
'Now, it is the time to move on. The time has come to do something else.'
The second-row forward is in the last year of his contract at Toulouse, with whom he has won two French championships and two European Cups.
In his last appearance in a France jersey, he was forced off with a rib injury midway through the first half of the 14-9 defeat to England after he was tackled by Jonny Wilkinson.
That was the latest in a succession of injuries that have plagued Pelous over the last two years.
In all, he won four Grand Slams - in 1997, 1998, 2002, 2004 - with France in the Five and Six Nations.
