Wed 20 Dec 2023 | 11:19

Matt Giteau refuses to retire as he makes promise to his wife

Just under 12 months ago we were reporting that Aussie legend Matt Giteau was finally hanging up his playing boots after a career spanning over 20 years. At the time, the playmaker told the world: “It’s been such an amazing experience and one that I will miss but I have milked this game and contracts dry". Well, it now appears that the 41-year-old just can't let the game go, as he's committed to one more season.

Taking to X (Twitter), Giteau has announced one more season with San Diego Legion Rugby, as he promised "This is definitely, definitely my last season", before adding that his wife made him promise.

Danny Lee, Head Coach and Director Of Rugby, said: “We are over the moon to secure the services of Matt for the upcoming season. To have a highly experienced, International player of Matt’s caliber join the Legion is something very exciting. He is a world class player that will bring an incredible wealth of knowledge, competitive attitude and drive to succeed with him that will no doubt spread throughout the squad. We can’t wait to get the former MLR winner onboard.”

Fans have met this announcemement with humour and excitement. One fan commented, "I think @giteau_rugby is vying for the record for the most retirement U-Turns", whilst another added "Good luck Gits. I reckon there's a couple more in you. If Nonu can do it, surely you can."

Throughout his illustrious career, Giteau has amassed over a century of caps for his country in addition to numerous appearances for his club sides since the beginning of the century. Primarily serving as a ball-playing inside centre, Giteau initially made his mark in Super Rugby with the Brumbies, and later with the Western Force. In these early stages of his career, he began captivating the rugby world with his exceptional vision and ability to control the flow of play.

As Giteau entered the peak of his career, he made his move to France, joining the high-spending Toulon. It was there that he forged a formidable partnership with the English rugby legend, Jonny Wilkinson. This period marked unparalleled success in European competitions for Giteau. With three consecutive European trophies during his time there, it was a golden era for Giteau and his Toulon teammates.