Former France Captain Retires
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Former France captain and hooker Dimitri Szarzewski has announced his retirement from all rugby due to the effects of an accumulation of injuries.
"All these years, I haven't been saved from injuries, but now my body says stop. Rugby hurts," the 83-time international said in a statement.
"My body's suffering. I could have continued a few more months but I couldn't take responsibility of my role as captain. I spend the most of my time on the physio's table," the Racing 92 skipper added.
His final test appearance for France came against the All Blacks where France were humbled in the quarter-final in 2015.
He won the French Top 14 with Stade Francais in 2007 before crossing Paris and lifting the title with Racing nine years later.
Szarzewski will take up a role as a coach in the club's academy. He made his Test debut in July 2004 and would go on to earn 83 caps for Les Bleus and won three Six Nations titles with France in 2006, 2007 and 2010 and played in the 2011 World Cup final against the All Blacks.
