France stalwart Serge Betsen has confirmed that he has retired from international rugby with immediate effect.
The loose forward, who won 63 caps and scored nine tries for France, announced his decision at a specially convened media conference on Wednesday at Clichy-la-Garenne - the town of his formative club.
The Biarritz star added that he will also step down from all rugby when his current club contract expires at the end of the current season.
Betsen recently suffered a back injury and admitted that the problem had contributed to his decision.
"I suffered an injury just after the World Cup, and it has caused me concern," he said on Wednesday.
"Even if I could play again with my club, I am not at 100 per cent to demand a place in the France team.
"My international career has come to an end. I am still under contract until the end of the season with Biarritz.
"At the end of the season, I will end my career with Biarritz."
The 33-year-old follows fellow France veterans Fabien Pelous, Raphaël Ibañez and Christophe Dominici in retiring from Test rugby in the aftermath of the 2007 World Cup.
Betsen moved with his parents to France at the age of nine from Cameroon and has served Biarritz since he was 17.
Nick-named 'La Faucheuse' (The Grim Reaper), the tough-tackling flank made his first appearance for France in 1997 against Italy, but did not receive his second call-up until the 2000 Six Nations.
His last appearance for Les Bleus came in the World Cup semi-final defeat to England.
Betsen's finest moment came in the 2002 Six Nations when his masterful man-marking of Jonny Wilkinson forced the England fly-half's replacement and paved the way to a 20-15 victory and a Grand Slam title; he was subsequent named the IRB's World Player of the Year.
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