Post RWC Retirement List

[Hugh Jarse]

By close of business tonight we will be down to just 4 teams left in the RWC.

There are any number of elder statesmen of Rugby who are likely to announce their retirement (from Test Match Footy), or should announce their retirements to make the way for the younger folk as teams start their buildup for RWC 2015.


Any retirements announced from teams who have already departed RWC?

This thread also provides an opportunity to say a few kind words about the retirees.

Hopefully we will be mature enough to keep the "Feck off John Smith, I've always hated you, you cheating fkwit. " type posts to a minimum.

Edit: Extend List to include Coach (retirements/sackings) and Referee retirements

 

[Antony]

Well we've seen the last of the Irish golden generation (I think?): O'Driscoll, O'Connell and O'Gara. Fine servants all, the game will be worse off without them.

 

[Tongaussie]

Cool thread.

Probably be seeing off the last of Dad's Army, at least before the next World Cup. Jonny Wilkinson, Lewis Moody, Simon Shaw, Nick Easter, Steve Thompson and Mike Tindall. Was a massive fan of Nick Easter, always a hard runner and seems like a nice enough guy. Jonny too.

 

[wobbly]

Typo... don't you mean John Smit?

 

[Blue]

Victor Matfield

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Typo... don't you mean John Smit?

No reference intended to any current player in the example above.

That being said I would not be surprised if John Smit called it quits on his distinguished international career. He has slowed down of late, but is a canny leader.

 

[Eyes and Ears]

None of these 10 RWC referees are retiring post RWC but Mark Lawrence has retired from Tests (and will probably do 1 more Super rugby season) and Stu Dickinson has retired from all refereeing.
Having said that, I would think it would be the last RWC for Kaplan, B.Lawrence and Rolland.

 

[matty_k]

P Divvy is hanging up the clipboard apparently.

 

[Slim 293]

None of these 10 RWC referees are retiring post RWC but Mark Lawrence has retired from Tests (and will probably do 1 more Super rugby season) and Stu Dickinson has retired from all refereeing.
Having said that, I would think it would be the last RWC for Kaplan, B.Lawrence and Rolland.

One would hope.

Although Kaplan hasn't bothered me too much this RWC.

 

[Swarley]

This list is a combination of confirmed retirees, players heading overseas and those in their 30's who haven't made it official yet. They might play another season or two, but no more RWC's.

Argentina:
Mario Ledesma
Rodrigo Roncero
Martin Sclezo
Patricio Albacete
Julio Cabello
Felipe Contepomi

Australia:
Nathan Sharpe
Dan Vickerman
Luke Burgess
Wycliff Palu
Radike Samo

England:
Lee Mears
Steve Thompson
Andrew Sheridan
Louis Deacon
Tom Palmer
Simon Shaw
Lewis Moody
Nick Easter
Jonny Wilkinson
Mike Tindall
Mark Cueto

France:
William Servat
Nicolas Mas
Lionel Nallet
Julien Bonnaire
Dimitri Yachvili
Cedric Heymans

Ireland:
Leo Cullen
Donnacha O'Callaghan
Paul O'Connell
Isaac Boss
Brian O'Driscoll
Ronan O'Gara
Gordon D'Arcy
Geordan Murphy

Italy:
Fabio Ongaro
Andrea Lo Cicero
Mauro Bergamasco
Andrea Masi

New Zealand:
Andrew Hore
Kevin Mealamu
Brad Thorn
Conrad Smith
Mils Muliaina
Jimmy Cowan

Scotland:
Allan Jacobsen
Euan Murray
Nathan Hines
Mike Blair
Dan Parks
Simon Danielli
Sean Lamont
Chris Paterson

South Africa:
John Smit
Fourie du Preez
Victor Matfield
CJ van der Linde
Bakkies Botha
Dannie Rossouw
Butch James
Jean de Villiers

Wales:
Gethin Jenkins
Ryan Jones
Stephen Jones
Shane Williams

Wow. What a list.

 

[Eyes and Ears]

No Richie McCaw on your list? Does anyone think he could make it to the next RWC?

 

[tigerland12]

Almost the whole Samoan team

We probably won't see Schwalger, Mapusua, Leo, Fa'asavalu, Tuilagi, Pisi, Lemi again, all will be over/pushing 34 next world cup.

 

[Swarley]

No Richie McCaw on your list? Does anyone think he could make it to the next RWC?

He's signed on for four more years, so there's still a chance.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

PdV (SAF) has pulled the pin on his National Coaching career.

There will certainly be a lot less humour following his departure. One of the most misunderestimated coaches of the modern era.

 

[Blue]

PDivvy Quits

http://www.keo.co.za/2011/10/09/pdv-the-journey-is-over/

PdV quits as Boks crash out

9 Oct 2011

Peter de Villiers has quit after coaching the Springboks to a World Cup quarter-final defeat in Wellington.

De Villiers’ contract has expired and after a four year tenure marked by controversy and criticism, he will opt not to put forward his name as a candidate for the now vacant post.

‘Its been a brilliant journey and one that none of you [the media] can take away from me,’ he said. ‘There’s a time to come and a time to go. The journey is over.

‘I enjoyed it. I was in a privileged position to be able to contribute to my country. South African rugby is in a good state and will move forward after this.’

Asked how he wanted to be remembered, De Villiers said: ‘As the best me I could be.’

De Villiers ends his career with a 63% success rate, winning 30 of his 48 Tests. However, measured against the best in the world he has struggled. With the defeat in Wellington this evening his record against Australia dipped to four wins from 12, while he has won just five from 11 against the All Blacks.

De Villiers enjoyed the bulk of his success in 2009, winning a series against the British & Irish Lions, as well as the Tri-Nations. However, outside of that the Springboks have struggled, this with arguably the finest generation of players in decades at his disposal.

His loyalty to captain John Smit, despite the rise of the incomparable Bismarck du Plessis, has elicited severe criticism. He sought out Smit in 2008 while the Test veteran was contracted to French outfit Clermont, offering him the captaincy, then persisting with him despite Smit touching the ceiling of his potential in 2009.

Smit was liberal in his praise of De Villiers. ‘We’ve had a good four years. He isn’t a coach in the usual mould but one we’ve thoroughly enjoyed,’ Smit said. ‘He has given us leeway and space and tightened the reigns when he needed to. He is a great man and coach.’

De Villiers was appointed ahead of superior candidates, most notably Heyneke Meyer, in 2008, South African Rugby Union president Oregan Hoskins citing ‘reasons other than rugby credentials’ as the reason for the decision.

There isn’t a clear favourite for the post. Meyer has signed a long-term deal with the Bulls as their director of rugby and has indicated repeatedly to this website that he isn’t considering applying for the job. The Stormers duo of Rassie Erasmus and Allistair Coetzee are expected to toss their names into the hat, while others like Lions coach John Mitchell and former Saracens head Brendan Venter have been mentioned as possible candidates.

That one statement sums up how terribly insecure this little man is.

Thank fuck these four years are over. If it wasn't for a fantastic crop of players we would have been right in the shitter.

What could have been if selections were better and nostalgia we left at the selection room door.

Tonight summed up two years of regression.

PS. Just not Brendan Venter please.

Rassie Erasmus and Alistair Coetzee are solid options but attacks under them tend to be poor.

Alistair will get the job in all likelihood.

 

[Duncher]

Dick Muir not an option???

 

[qwerty51]

John Mitchell is my guess

 

[jauzy19]

This list is a combination of confirmed retirees, players heading overseas and those in their 30's who haven't made it official yet. They might play another season or two, but no more RWC's.

Argentina:
Patricio Albacete

France:
Nicolas Mas

Think you're wrong for those two. Pato will be 34 in 2015, it's not old for a second row, moreover he's by far the best argie lock. Mas will be 35, and there aren't a lot of young promising TH props in France.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

John Mitchell is my guess

And that would put Princes of Darkness in charge in:
Australia
Canada
NZRT
Wales
Safferland
Japan

and...?

 

[tigerland12]

Think you're wrong for those two. Pato will be 34 in 2015, it's not old for a second row, moreover he's by far the best argie lock. Mas will be 35, and there aren't a lot of young promising TH props in France.

It's not like he's declining in form either, I still rate him in the top 5 locks in the world.