Former France international Imanol Harinordoquy to retire

Former France international and Toulouse number-8 Imanol Harinordoquy has decided to retire from professional rugby at the end of the ongoing Top 14 season.

Toulouse are currently in contention to make it to the play-offs after winning their last three games and securing 66 points overall. Harinordoquy believes winning the Top 14 title will be a perfect way to end his career.

Harinordoquy made his club debut for French club Pau in 1999 and switched to Biarritz between 2004 and 2014 following which he joined Toulouse.

"I will stop at the end of the season," he told L'Equipe.

"It will be a bit special when I play my last matches. I am not apprehensive. On the contrary, I am very excited about my final days. I want to win something."

After making his Test debut for France in 2002, Harinordoquy had 82 appearances for his country scoring 65 points in it.

He was also part of the French team that won five Six Nations including three Grand Slams. Having been part of 16 World Cup games as well, the back-row player helped his team reach the 2011 final.

Revealing, retirement was on his minds two years back as well, with constant knee pain, Harinordoquy reasoned his fitness behind the decision to step down.

"It has come quite naturally, knowing that I was ready to stop two years ago after a difficult season at Biarritz, with the team's relegation and a knee constantly in pain.

"I nearly ended my career because I could not train any more. Running had become a torture.

“When you get up the day after the game and need four ice packs on your knee, when your son asks you to pass a ball around in the garden and you cannot, you realise you have a life away from rugby."