Former France international Clement Poitrenaud announces retirement

Former France International and Toulouse full-back Clement Poitrenaud has announced his decision to retire subsequent to the French rugby union club deciding to not offer him a new contract.

The 33-year-old commenced his stint at Toulouse in the 2000/01 season with whom he won four French league and three European Cup titles. Poitrenaud capped 47 times with France for whom he scored seven tries.

Poitrenaud underwent humiliation as he cost Toulouse the Heineken Cup in 2004. He made a costly 78th-minute blunder in the finals against Wasps allowing Rob Howley the Welsh scrum-half to snatch the ball almost out of his hands and score the winning try.

After 15 years at Toulouse, Poitrenaud says it was fitting he hangs his boots once the club decided against renewing his contract.

"I wanted to stay another year but the club didn't want it," Poitrenaud told Toulouse society magazine Boudu.

"It was going to have to stop at one point or another.

"I've had bad luck with injury this last year. So this season, I've played less, I've had more trouble staying in rhythm.

"This is a situation that I had never known before. But deep down, whatever the moment, it is sad to leave your club."