"Relentless" - Retiring Sergio Parisse ranks his five toughest opponents

The Toulon number eight, who turns 38 on Sunday, told AFP that it was time to call a halt to his playing career.

"Yes, it's certain because you mustn't push things too far, especially at the physical level because mentally, I feel very fresh," he said ahead of Sunday's Top 14 match against Toulouse.

"Everyone knows their body and knows what they are capable of doing. I knew I had the mental and physical strength to make a final season. It was also a discussion with the club.

"At 38, there are questions that arise. With the club, we all agreed that it was a good decision. Now it's up to me to have fun with every game."

DID YOU KNOW? Sergio Parisse was born in La Plata, capital of Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Italian parents. 

The flanker, who was capped 83 times over an 11-year Wallabies career, opted against returning to his Japanese Top League club, the Panasonic Wild Knights, for another season in 2020. Already well-known for his activism on social justice and environmental issues, the 32-year-old will now dedicate his time to conservation.

Parisse said: "Nobody tested me physically as much as Pocock. He was physically the perfect rugby player."

DID YOU KNOW? Born in Zimbabwe, Pocock moved to Australia as a teenager and played for the Australia national rugby team

Dusautoir was considered as a strong ball carrier and possessed incredibly powerful and effective tackling. He broke the record for most tackles in a match, making 38 tackles against the All Blacks in the 2007 World Cup. He was considered as one of, if not the best tackler in the world.

Parisse said: "Dusautoir has to be considered one of the greats. No matter what the occasion, he always brought the same intensity."

DID YOU KNOW? Dusautoir was the World Rugby Player of the Year in 2011, the second French player to win the award

Read scored 26 tries during his international rugby career and is also the third-most-capped All Black in history, having played over 127 tests across his 11-year career for New Zealand.

Parisse said: "I think Kieran Read was underrated compared to some of his teammates. Relentless."

DID YOU KNOW? In the 2020 Queen's Birthday Honours, Read was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to rugby

Wilkinson won 91 caps for England. He was an integral member of the England squad which won the 2003 World Cup, scoring the winning drop goal in the last minute of extra time against Australia in the final. He came back from several injuries and was part of the England team which reached the final of the 2007 World Cup. He toured twice with the British & Irish Lions, in 2001 to Australia and 2005 to New Zealand, winning 6 caps.

Parisse said: "He has something about him that made him different. It's hard to explain."

DID YOU KNOW? Wilkinson's brother, Mark, was also a Newcastle player who made 16 appearances in the Premiership for the side between 2002 and 2005, predominantly as a centre

McCaw was the first All Black to reach 100 caps, and the first rugby union player to win 100 tests. He was the most-capped player in rugby union history with 148 caps, having overtaken Brian O'Driscoll's record in 2015 and losing the record to Alun Wyn Jones in 2020. McCaw has also equaled the record for most appearances at the Rugby World Cup with Jason Leonard.

Parisse: "McCaw was an inspirational leader and a world-class operator."

DID YOU KNOW? He now works as a helicopter pilot. He flew several rescue and reconnaissance missions following the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake that struck the South Island