Sam Whitelock, holding the record for the most appearances in All Blacks history, has announced he will hang up his boots at the end of the playing season with his current French club, Pau. Aged 35, Whitelock, the veteran lock, revealed his retirement plans on Tuesday.
Having donned the All Blacks jersey for 153 Test matches after making his international debut in 2010, Whitelock was a central figure in the victorious New Zealand teams that lifted the World Cup trophy in 2011 and 2015.
In a statement distributed by New Zealand Rugby, Whitelock disclosed that, after many talks with his wife Hannah and the children regarding their future, the moment to bring his rugby-playing days to a close had finally arrived. He stressed that it wasn’t a decision taken lightly, but it was the correct one for him, his wife, and their three children.
Whitelock, who launched his professional career with Canterbury in 2008, was a crucial player in the Super Rugby Crusaders team from 2010. His key contributions helped the team secure five championships before he transferred to Pau in 2023.
Praising Whitelock’s contribution to rugby, New Zealand’s head coach, Scott Robertson, labelled him as an “immortal” of the sport. He added that Whitelock’s influence, both in terms of mental resilience and physical prowess, through four World Cup cycles had been monumental, and that he was an accomplished player who consistently excelled under pressure.
(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2024.