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Candid Clerc says it's "scary" as former France wing closes in on retirement
By Harry West
Former France wing Vincent Clerc has announced he will retire at the end of the season with Toulon.
Clerc enjoyed an 11-year international career with Les Bleus between 2002 and 2013 and was part of three Six Nations winning sides during that period.
He was part of the squad that reached the last four of the 2007 World Cup, and starred at the finals four years later, scoring six tries before France finished as runners-up to New Zealand.
A three-time European champion with Toulouse, Clerc moved to Toulon ahead of last season but revealed on Tuesday that 2017-18 would be his final campaign as a professional.
Also winner of the Top 14 on three occasions with his former club, Clerc is targeting one more domestic title with Toulon to create the fairytale ending to his career.
"Here it is, I decided to put an end to my career at the end of the season," the 36-year-old said in a YouTube video posted via his Twitter account.
"Almost one year ago, I thought everything was over when I got an Achilles injury, I thought about stopping everything, but deep down I had a feeling that history wasn't finished, that I still had a chapter left to write.
"And I thought, I worked every day, finally, slowly, with patience and perseverance, I had the chance to do one more season at this level.
"It's true that I'm going to miss a lot of things: friends, adrenaline, competition, the fans, that's for sure. What I'll remember is that for years I lived a childhood dream.
"I was incredibly well surrounded, helped, and with every step of this adventure I realise that it's the last weeks, the last matches, the last finals.
"It's scary but it motivates me: I realise that I have the same excitement that I'm ready, that I want to go and get one more title.
"Nothing is altered and I still have the same motivation and if I could go get a last trophy, because it's definitely among my best souvenirs and emotions, to go and get a last shield before I leave would be the greatest way to put an end to my career."
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Latest Comments
I was at this match. Jordie Barrett earned his money with a massive hit to slow a connaught attack to win the math when Leinster had 14 in the last few mins. Mack Hansen had a real go at the refereeing after citing a serious head hits on Iaone and Aki.
connaught were up for this. Snyman tried a trademark dirty after, and the onnaught 4 and the onnaught pack absolutely laid into him.
Leinster hose to kick to the corner when only winning by 5 with 10 left and qith only 2 tries scored. onnaught should have punisihed them for that utter stupidity after they broke out and Leinster yellowed to stop the attack.
13 changes from last week. It seems teams are scoring about 10 points less against Leinster this year. With Neinaber in his second year, the new attack coah established, surely they will be a bigger threat in champions up? Or will the attack recgress further.
They must adopt the SA philosophy of take your 3 pointers and the bonus points will come.
connaught back line inluding Iaone, Murphy, Aki, Forde, cordero is the seond best in Ireland surely. Leinster were lucky here
Go to commentsShould have played more for England but he jumped ship just as he was breaking through.
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