Parks retires from international rugby
Scotland fly-half Dan Parks has retired from Test rugby with immediate effect, the Scottish Rugby Union has announced.
The 33-year-old played his 67th Test in Saturday's Six Nations defeat to England and crucially had a kick charged down by a scoring Charlie Hodgson.
Parks, who made his Test debut in 2004, is now expected to have his 10 jersey taken over by Edinburgh's Greig Laidlaw. Meanwhile, uncapped Glasgow Warriors fly-half Duncan Weir is likely to receive a place on the replacements' bench.
He scored 266 points, including a Scottish record 17 drop-goals in his career and was the pivotal figure in Scotland's successes in 2010, winning a host of man-of-the-match awards and steering the side to a historic, unprecedented Test series triumph in Argentina and memorable victories against Ireland and South Africa.
"I was thinking about it but the first game of the Six Nations was against England, the auld enemy, Jacko (Ruaridh Jackson) was injured and being able to play against England was huge for me as there was a sense of unfinished business," he told www.scotlandrugbyteam.org.
"On reflection after the game, after talking it over with my family, girl-friend and close friends I've come to the decision that now is the right time to retire from the international game.
"There are some really talented guys coming through - Jacko (Ruaridh Jackson), Greig (Laidlaw) and Duncan (Weir) - and although I'm sad to be finishing my international career I have some fantastic memories of playing for Scotland and what that has meant to me.
"I've no regrets at what has been an amazing career for me. I've got my favourite moments for Scotland - uppermost being the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
"That was my first World Cup, something that as a youngster you would always aspire to play in, and it was just such a happy, exciting, positive time. It was also where I met my girl-friend, Laetitia.
"Other memorable moments have been the two wins against England at home (2006 and 2008), the win against South Africa here at Murrayfield, the two wins in Argentina in 2010 and one in 2008 and the Ireland game in 2010 which was a great occasion.
"I've made some incredible friends here in Scotland and in the Scotland team and a lot of those friendships were forged in Glasgow.
"There are a lot of people within Scottish rugby who have been good to me. I would like to thank Matt Williams, Frank Hadden, Andy Robinson and all the various assistant coaches over the years, alongside the medical, fitness, kit, administrative and media staff who have helped me.
"I was proud of myself in the way I came back from trouble off the pitch in order to regain my position firstly within the Glasgow team and then the Scotland team.
"I want to say a massive thank you to my family and close friends. They've been invaluable for their constant support over the years.
"I also want to thank the loyal fans of the Scotland team. It's been a rocky road for me at times but at the end I've always given 100 per cent to play at my best and succeed for Scotland.
"This is not the end of me as a rugby player. My international career is over but I want to keep playing club rugby. I always enjoyed my time in Glasgow. It's one of great cities I've visited, so who knows what will happen in the future."
