James Slipper became the most capped Wallaby last year. Photo: Photosport
Wallabies v All Blacks
Kick-off: 10:45pm Saturday 4 October
Optus Stadium, Perth
Live blog updates on RNZ
Australia's most-capped test player James Slipper will retire from international rugby following Saturday's game against the All Blacks, bringing the curtain down on a record-breaking 16-year career.
The 36-year-old prop earned his 150th cap last week in Auckland, becoming only the third player in test rugby history to reach the milestone after Wales' Alun Wyn Jones (171) and New Zealand's Sam Whitelock (153).
Slipper will end his Wallabies career where it began - in Perth - having made his debut off the bench as a 21-year-old against England in 2010.
"Representing the Wallabies has been the single proudest achievement of my rugby career and a privilege I have never taken for granted," he said in a Rugby Australia statement on Wednesday.
"As a young kid on the Gold Coast playing backyard footy with my brothers, it was a dream to pull on the gold jersey, and to be able to say I've lived my dream for what's coming on 16 years is more than I could ever have asked for.
"It feels like the right time for me to step away from test rugby. There's a number of good young props coming through who will need time in the saddle leading into what's going to be an unbelievable experience of a home Rugby World Cup in 2027."
- Reuters
