Powerhouse announces shock international retirement, aged 27

Sunday, 07 June 2020 at 16:34

bySteven Smith

France international Jefferson Poirot has announced his shock retirement from international rugby at the age of just 27 due to a lack of motivation.

The loosehead-prop, who started just one of les Bleus matches during this year's Six Nations, led his country against Tonga in the group stages of the competition before the last-eight loss to Wales.

“It’s time for me to tell you about the difficult decision I made a few months ago," wrote the prop.

“That I’m taking a step back from this grail that is the France Team, this wonderful team that is so dreaming, that is so hard to reach but that is also sometimes trying,” wrote Poirot.

“After 5 seasons to invest in it, to participate in this race against the clock, I decided to take a step back, to devote myself fully to other personal goals.

“This decision will allow me to no longer feel like I am 50% on all fronts, and to focus on a 100% goal. The goal that keeps me obsessing about winning club titles, turning my career in playing, and being a full-time Dad.”

“Those who do not know me will be surprised, perhaps disappointed, those who know me will be able to understand. My loved ones support me, and this decision has been carefully considered, in any case it is not a whim: it is for me the right decision. The upstanding man, the father, is the one who makes the right decisions, at the right time, to be as tall as possible.”

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British & Irish Lions predicted 2021 starting XV according to the bookies

Odds are accurate on Wednesday, 22nd April 2020, 8am, and are subject to change.

620446 rugby union 2013 british and irish lions squad announcement london hilton syon park

Fullback: LIAM WILLIAMS (Wales 4/7)

Other contenders: Stuart Hogg (Scotland 4/6), Jordan Larmour (Ireland EVS), Leigh Halfpenny (Wales 5/1), George Furbank (England 7/2)

Left wing: JONNY MAY (England 1/25)

Other contenders: Jacob Stockdale (Ireland 1/3), Adam Radwan (England 40/1), Jack Nowell (England 11/4), Louis Rees-Zammit (Wales 13/8)

Outside-centre: JONATHAN DAVIES (Wales 1/3)

Other contenders: Henry Slade (England 5/6), Garry Ringshow (Ireland 4/6), Jonathan Joseph (England 13/8), Chris Harris (Scotland 20/1), Huw Jones (Scotland 6/1)

Inside-centre: MANU TUILAGI (England 1/3)

Other contenders: Robbie Henshaw (Ireland 5/6), Hadleigh Parkes (Wales 5/4), Sam Johnson (Scotland 9/2)

Right wing: JOSH ADAMS (Wales 1/18)

Other contenders: Anthony Watson (England 4/6), George North (Wales 2/1), Elliot Daly (England 10/11), Joe Cokanasiga (England 3/1), Keith Earls (Ireland 9/2)

Fly-half: OWEN FARRELL (England 1/25)

Other contenders: Johnny Sexton (Ireland 1/2), Dan Biggar (Wales 8/15), Finn Russell (Scotland 3/1), Marcus Smith (England 8/1)

Scrum-half: CONOR MURRAY (Ireland 4/6)

Other contenders: Tomos Williams (Wales 5/4), Ben Youngs (England 6/4), Ali Price (Scotland 2/1)

Looshead-prop: MAKO VUNIPOLA (England 4/6)

Other contenders: Ellis Genge (England 1/3), Cian Healy (Ireland 5/6), Joe Marler (England 5/2)

Hooker: JAMIE GEORGE (England 1/10)

Other contenders: Luke Cowan-Dickie (England 4/6), Ken Owens (Wales 7/4), Stuart McInally (Scotland 7/2)

Tighthead-prop: Tadhg Furlong (Ireland 1/15)

Other contenders: Kyle Sinckler (England 1/5), Tomas Francis (Wales 11/8), Harry Williams (England 5/1)

Lock: MATO ITOJE (England 1/10)

Other contenders: James Ryan (Ireland 1/5), Jonny Gray (Scotland 8/11)

Lock: ALUN WYN JONES (Wales 1/5)

Other contenders: Iain Henderson (Ireland 4/6), Courtney Lawes (England 5/4), George Kruis (England 7/2), Jean Kleyn (Ireland 33/1), Richie Gray (Scotland 5/1)