Mathieu Bastareaud calls time on international career
March 10, 2018 - Saint Denis, Seine Saint Denis, France - The Center of French Team MATHIEU BASTAREAUD in action during the NatWest Six Nations Rugby tournament between France and England at the Stade de France - St Denis - France..France won 22-16 (Credit Image: © Pierre Stevenin via ZUMA Wire)
France’s Mathieu Bastareaud has announced his retirement from international rugby after being omitted from their World Cup squad.
Bastareaud earned 54 caps for Les Bleus since making his debut in 2009 and was part of the Grand Slam winning side a year later.
The powerhouse centre also featured in the recent Six Nations but Jacques Brunel decided not to call him up for the upcoming global tournament, despite him playing a role in the 2015 competition.
“The road was not easy but wearing this jersey, representing my country, my family, was my greatest pride! I’m glad I was able to realise this childhood dream,” he wrote on Twitter.
“The blue page is turning! Good luck to the friends for this beautiful event that awaits them! Peace.”
La route n’a pas tjs été facile mais porter ce maillot, représenter mon pays, ma famille, a été ma plus grande fierté !
Je suis heureux d’avoir pu réaliser ce rêve de gosse…
La page bleue se tourne ! Bonne chance aux copains pour ce bel événement qui les attend ! Peace ✌🏾 pic.twitter.com/xzjYKO9NYt— Mathieu Bastareaud (@BastaOfficiel) June 19, 2019
Bastareaud has become a cult figure in French rugby and enjoyed tremendous success on the club scene after joining Toulon in 2011.
He was part of the team that dominated Europe between 2013 and 15 as they won three successive titles, while they added the domestic trophy in 2014 to complete a memorable double.
His form has been intermittent over the past few years but he did enough to earn a recall to the France squad in 2017 and impressed in the Six Nations the following year.
The centre will now head to Rugby United New York on a season-long loan deal from the Stade Mayol outfit.