Reihana walks off into the sunset

All Black Bruce Reihana announced his retirement, after the 38-year-old revealed that his contract with French side Bordeaux Bègles was not being renewed.

The announcement was not a surprise as Reihana, who played two Tests in 2000 before featuring for the New Zealand Sevens team, had been sidelined with a serious knee ligament injury since October.

"I am stopping because my contract isn't being renewed," Reihana told AFP after meeting with Bordeaux president Laurent Marti.

Reihana started his career at Waikato and joined Bordeaux-Begles in 2011 after 10 years in England with Northampton where he won the European Challenge Cup in 2009.

He played 48 times in the French Top 14, scoring four tries.

Reihana, who could have played for France as his mother is French, said he was disappointed he would never get the chance to play in the same team as his son Evaan, who will feature for the Bordeaux youth team next season.

"It was my dream before retiring, but it won't be possible now," he said.

AFP