English Woman's Journal - Ex-France centre Fofana retires after injury issues

Ex-France centre Fofana retires after injury issues


Ex-France centre Fofana retires after injury issues
Ex-France centre Fofana retires after injury issues / Photo: THOMAS SAMSON - AFP/File

Former France centre Wesley Fofana said on Monday he was retiring as his body could no longer keep up with the demands of professional rugby.

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Fofana, 34, who spent his whole senior career with Clermont, played the last of his 48 Tests in August 2019.

He made his international debut in the 2012 Six Nations, scoring in a 30-12 win over Italy and followed up with further tries in his next three matches against Scotland, Ireland and England.

Of his 15 Test tries, his most memorable was arguably a stunning 70-metre solo effort in a losing cause against England at Twickenham in 2013.

In May, the Parisian-born midfielder underwent surgery on his right bicep.

"After 15 years with Clermont and the great family of French rugby a chapter is turning for me," Fofana said on social media.

"These past years were at times hard to manage. One obvious thing I noticed was that my body could no longer take the standard needed to play professional rugby now.

"So, I have made the decision to stop my career," he added.

Fofana won the Top 14 in 2010 and 2017, was a losing finalist three times in the Champions Cup but won the Challenge Cup in 2019.

K.Marshall--EWJ