France skipper Dusautoir retires from playing Test rugby

France’s most-capped player Thierry Dusautoir has announced that he has retired from playing international rugby ahead of the Six Nations Championship.

Dusatoir’s retirement means that France will now have to appoint a new captain for the upcoming Six Nations in February 2016.

Dusatoir won 80 caps for France and captained them on 56 occasions.

The 34-year-old Toulouse forward told L’Equipe he had discussed his future with new coach Guy Noves after not wanting to make a hasty decision in the aftermath of France’s 62-13 mauling by the All Blacks in the World Cup quarter-finals.

“I saw him (Noves) this morning and we came to the same conclusions,” said the captain.

“That is why I am convinced that my decision is dictated by reason. If I had tried to continue, by forcing it, I would have looked very vain.

“This is the wisest decision,” he added in an interview to be published Saturday.

“My personality has always been to give my maximum to the French team and to my club before thinking about myself. Although I am proud and ambitious, I think I am also someone who is honest.”

Dusautoir made his international debut against Romania in 2006 before making a name for himself the following year when France stunned New Zealand 20-18 in the World Cup quarter-finals.

He scored a try in that famous win.

Dusautoir also scored a try and was named man of the match in the 2011 World Cup final when New Zealand avenged their defeat of four years earlier with an 8-7 win in the final.

The Ivory Coast-born flanker has been at Toulouse since 2006 playing for nine seasons under Noves.

They won three Top 14 titles together in 2008, 2011 and 2012 as well as the 2010 European Cup.