Former Wallabies star Matt Giteau, whose selection for Australia in 2015 as an overseas-based player created Australian rugby’s “Giteau Law”, has announced his retirement from the sport after a glittering career.
The now 40-year-old made the announcement via social media, declaring he had “milked this game and the contracts dry” having played in Australia, France, Japan and the US since his debut for the ACT Brumbies in 2001.
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Giteau represented Australia 103 times, and when then Wallabies coach Michael Cheika wanted to pick overseas-based players for the national team, with Giteau playing with Toulon in France, the “Giteau Law” was born.
“Half my life spent playing this great game professionally and travelling the world to do it,” Giteau said in his online post.
“So many great friendships made and some unbelievable memories created along the way.
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“It’s been such an amazing experience and one that I will miss but I have milked this game and the contracts dry.”
The “Giteau Law”, as it was coined, came about in 2015 when Cheika negotiated with Rugby Australia to allow players with 60 or more Wallabies caps to be selected for the national team.
At that stage no overseas-based players could play for the Wallabies.
The change was approved and Giteau was included in the World Cup squad that went on to reach the final, which the Wallabies lost.
Giteau finished his playing career, which included 10 years of Super Rugby, seven years in France and three in Japan, with the LA Giltinis in the Major League Rugby competition in the US.
