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Cantona, Rosberg and other surprise retirements after Warburton hangs up his boots
By Ben Spratt
Sam Warburton announced his retirement from rugby on Wednesday, bringing to an end a glittering career with Cardiff Blues, Wales and the British and Irish Lions.
Warburton, just 29, had been expected to return from injury and star again for club and country, but he was not content with his progress after neck and knee surgery.
The Welsh great instead called time on his career and joined a series of elite sports stars to announce surprise early retirements.
We look at five other athletes who bowed out with a shock decision.
ERIC CANTONA
Manchester United star Cantona went out at the very top, having just captained his side to consecutive Premier League titles. A controversial career ended at the age of 30, in 1997, and he went down as a club great for his role in building Alex Ferguson's dynasty.
MARION BARTOLI
Another to go out at the top but another who, like Warburton, contended with injury issues before making her decision. Bartoli won her first and last grand slam at Wimbledon in 2013. A few weeks later, the Frenchwoman retired, saying, "My body just can't do it anymore." An attempted comeback failed this year.
CASEY STONER
Stoner, unlike the others on this list, announced his retirement part way through a campaign, but it was no less of a shock. He had won a second MotoGP title in 2011, yet at the French Grand Prix the following year, he said, "This sport has changed a lot and it has changed to the point where I am not enjoying it." Stoner completed the season and finished third overall.
NICO ROSBERG
A recent example of an elite star calling time on his career early came at the end of the 2016 Formula One season when Nico Rosberg retired after winning the drivers' championship. Having twice finished as a runner-up previously, the German opted to go out at the pinnacle of his career.
BJORN BORG
Tennis great Borg, like Warburton, had a spell on the sidelines, but his retirement still came as something of a shock. The Swede reached three grand slam finals in 1981 before hardly playing at all in the following season. Borg announced his decision in January 1983, having won 11 majors by the age of 26.
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Latest Comments
There is this thing going around against Siya Kolisi where they don't want him to be known as the best national captain ever, so they strike him down in ratings permanently whenever they can. They want McCaw and reckons he is the best captain ever. I disagree.
Just like they refuse to see SA as the best team and some have even said that should the Boks win a third WC in a row, they will still not be the best team ever. Even if they win every game between now and the WC. That is some serious hate coming SA's way.
Everyone forget how the McCaw AB's intimidated refs, was always on the wrong side, played on the ground etc. Things they would never have gotten away with today. They may have a better win ratio, but SA build depth, not caring about rank inbetween WC's until this year.
They weren't as bad inbetween as people claim, because non e of their losses was big ones and they almost never faced the strongest Bok team outside of the WC, allowing countries like France and Ireland to rise to the top unopposed.
Rassie is still at it, building more depth, getting more young stars into the fold. By the time he leaves (I hope never) he will leave a very strong Bok side for the next 15- 20 years. Not everyone will play for 20 years, but each year Rassie acknowledge the young stars and get them involved and ready for international rugby.
Not everyone will make it to the WC, but those 51/52 players will compete for those spots for the WC. They will deliver their best. The future of the Boks is in very safe hands. The only thing that bothers me is Rassie's health. If he can overcome it, rugby looks dark for the rest of the rugby world. He is already the greatest coach in WR history. By the time he retires, he will be the biggest legend any sport has ever seen
Go to commentsWas it? I just brought it up in some of my posts to rub it in that the AB last year nearly put 100 on a top 6N side lol
I agree to be honest. The biggest key to me that they might be jadded was none of them had mom performances, or even as good as their last three games.
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