18 Feb 2009

Former French captain retires

6:09 am on 18 February 2009

The former France rugby captain Raphael Ibanez has announced his retirement from all rugby after suffering a series of concussions while playing for the English Premiership side Wasps.

Ibanez, who ended his international career only last year, made the announcement to quit altogether on his 36th birthday, after several doctors told him the risk of serious injury was too great to ignore.

The veteran hooker won 98 caps for France between 1996 and 2007.