The second line Sam Whitelock double world champion with the All Blacks(2011 and 2015), will retire at the end of this season, which he disputes with the French Pau, announced the Top 14 club and the New Zealand Rugby Federation.
When the name Sam Whitelock is mentioned, one cannot help but think of a winning, record-breaking and historic player: he participated in four World Cupsof which he was champion in 2011 and 2015, he came in 3rd place in 2019 and runner-up in 2023. He is the All Blacks player who wore the black jersey the most times: 153 matches.
“I am fortunate to be able to decide when to end my career and I want it to end on a good note,” explained the 2.02m and 117kg player in a statement transmitted by Pau.
“I have spoken a lot with my wife Hannah and my three children about the future that awaits us. It is time to close the rugby chapter,” he added in the text published by his country’s federation.
After losing the final of the last World Cup against South Africa, Whitelock signed for Pau, a club for which his brother Luke also plays.
After making his professional debut in 2008 with the Canterbury Crusaders, he won Super Rugby with this team five times.
Sam Whitelockes the New Zealander with the most caps in World Cups. After surpassing Richie McCaw In the victory against Italy by 96 to 17, the historic forward reached 150 caps with the United States shirt. All Blacks against Uruguay. Now, his retirement has already been announced and with the France 2023 final as his last game with the black shirt, he reached a total of 153 matches with the national team New Zealand.
It should be noted that he is the second professional with the most international matches in history, only behind the 171 from Welsh Alun Wyn Jones. Also, the second row was the youngest All Black to reach 100 caps and the fastest in the world to achieve that milestone.
The debut of the born in Palmerston North with the All Blacks it was in 2010. In it he scored two tries. He had his first captaincy with the New Zealand team against Wales, in Cardiff in 2017.
In addition to his participation in the World Cups, He also celebrated 11 times in the Rugby Championship/Three Nations (2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023) and seven titles in Super Rugby with Crusaders (2017, 2018, 2019 , 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023).
Source: Ambito
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