France
Ex-France international Clement Poitrenaud retires from rugby
PA Sport
May 4, 2016
© REMY GABALDA/AFP/Getty Images

Former France international Clement Poitrenaud has retired after Toulouse denied him a new contract.

The 33-year-old, who has filled fullback and centre roles in his career, began with Toulouse in the 2000/01 season and won four French league titles and the European Cup on three occasions.

Poitrenaud might have had a fourth European Cup winner's medal, but he made a major 78th-minute error in the 2004 final against Wasps.

With ample time to deal with a grubber kick from Rob Howley, he allowed the Welsh scrum-half to snatch the ball almost out of his hands for the winning try.

After 15 years at Toulouse, Poitrenaud says it was appropriate he should retire once the club decided against extending his deal.

As well as a glittering club career, he won 47 caps with France, scoring seven tries and playing in the teams that reached World Cup semifinals in 2003 and 2007.

"I wanted to stay another year but the club didn't want it," Poitrenaud told Toulouse society magazine Boudu. "It was going to have to stop at one point or another.

"I've had bad luck with injury this last year. So this season, I've played less, I've had more trouble staying in rhythm.

"This is a situation that I had never known before. But deep down, whatever the moment, it is sad to leave your club."

© PA Sport

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