Top 14: Pau All Black legend Sam Whitelock will retire at the end of the season

The emblematic New Zealand second row, double world champion with the All Blacks, will retire at the end of the season, which he is playing with Pau (Top 14), his club and the neo-federation announced on Tuesday. Zealand rugby union.

Samuel Whitelock, aged 35 and the most capped player in the history of the All Blacks (153 caps), joined the Pau Section in December (of which his brother, Luke, is captain), after the defeat of the New Zealanders in final of the 2023 World Cup in France against South Africa.

“I've talked quite a bit with my wife Hannah and my three children about what the future holds. It's time to close the rugby chapter, said the legend, quoted in the New Zealand Federation's press release. I think what I'm most excited about now is spending more time with my kids and my wife and watching them play sports. Being able to go cross country at school and all that…”

“Almost 16 years ago, I played my first professional match. The start of an incredible sporting adventure. With the Crusaders, I discovered the demand for a very high level, the All Blacks taught me to always try to be better in both victory and defeat and finally in Pau I discovered a very tough championship with the Top 14. I have made the decision to end my career next June. I have two obsessions today: to finish my season with Pau at my best level and not to spend the year too long, continued the emblematic second row in a video published on X by the Pau club. I am lucky to be able to decide to end my career and I want it to end on a good note.

Samuel Whitelock was committed to the Section Paloise until June 2025. He informed the managers, the staff and his teammates of his desire to retire from sports at the end of the current season, according to the press release. sent by the Béarnais club. Who “salutes the immense career and the greatness of his decision. This choice reflects her image: professional, honest and determined. His desire to finish at the highest level in the Section and not spend the year too long honors him. Let's all make sure that his last months on the pitch are worthy of his career for him and for the club.

“Samuel’s decision and loyalty can only be praised. A great player made a great decision. He shared his choice with us and insisted on his desire to finish at the highest level in the Section, continued Sébastien Piqueronies, manager of the Paloise Section. Since his arrival at the club, we have all appreciated his direct and indirect contribution, he exudes a real culture of work and winning. Even if his Béarnaise adventure will end in June, he will leave a legacy to this group. I hope that his last matches will be those where the Section will take a step forward, that would be the best ending that the team can offer him.

Pau, who narrowly lost in Toulouse last Saturday (31-29), is currently 7th in the ranking and can believe in its chances of an unprecedented qualification for the final phase of the Top 14. Samuel Whitelock has, for the moment , played seven Top 14 matches with Pau (7 starts, 456 minutes of play).

In recent weeks, the second row had been approached in vain by Scott Robertson, the new coach of the All Blacks and his former coach at the Crusaders, to make his return under the fern tunic this summer in order to bring his experience to the new generation.