Nine rugby stars who are retiring this summer: Best, Fofana, Haskell...

Ulster and Ireland captain Best announced that he will retire from professional rugby after Rugby World Cup 2019 in April. The 36-year-old hooker, who boasts 117 Test caps and has led Ireland to their only two victories over New Zealand, confirmed the news in a statement.

The 31-year-old has made 45 France appearances, scoring 15 tries, but played only once for Les Bleus in 2017 and 2018 after a succession of injury problems. He's set to hang up his boots at the end of the season unless he gets a recall for the Rugby World Cup.

The 34-year-old, who has won 77 caps and played in the past two World Cups, has struggled with ankle and toe problems with Northampton this season.

Ireland head coach Schmidt had been regarded as a future All Blacks coach, but he has announced that he will finish coaching following next autumn’s tournament in Japan.

England’s most capped international referee and leading Premiership whistler, Wayne Barnes, has indicated that this may be his 13th and final top level year before possibly retiring next Autumn.

The Sarries speedster has announced he will retire from professional rugby at the end of the current season following an illustrious 17-year career.
The 35-year-old first picked up a ball aged five years has gone on to make over 325 appearances at club level as well as earning 14 caps for England on the international stage.

Horwill, who will turn 34 in the final week of the campaign, also captained Queensland Reds, as well as the Wallabies 16 times, in his 14-year professional career. He is currently in his fourth season with Quins, where he is co-captain.

The former England winge is to retire at the end of this season after 16 years with London Irish. The 33-year-old is the Exiles' all-time record appearance maker and try scorer, having made his debut in October 2005.

Cave, who recently turned 32, made the announcement just days after featuring prominently in Ulster's rousing display against Leinster in the Aviva Stadium, which ended in an agonisingly narrow defeat to the reigning champions.