Retirement call from Nick Abendanon
Clermont Auvergne and former England full-back Nick Abendanon has announced that he will retire when the current season comes to an end.
The 33-year-old, who played in two Tests for his country in 2007, joined Clermont from Premiership outfit Bath in 2014 and will be out of contract at the end of this season.
“It’s difficult but at the end of June, I have to stop, I haven’t got a choice,” Abendanon told French newspaper Midi Olympique.
“In my head, I hoped to play as much as possible at the end of the season to prove I was at this level and I deserved a contract at another club,” he added.
The 2019/20 Top 14 season has been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic after the completion of 17 rounds of matches.
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Clermont have also advanced to the European Champions Cup quarter-finals.
“It’s not at all my decision,” said Abendanon, who was named European Player of the Year in 2015. “There are things above us in life, events more important than your plans. I don’t feel ready to stop but I have to.”
Abendanon, who won Challenge Cup trophies and the Top 14 with Clermont in 2017, had negotiations with San Diego Legion in the US and was also linked with London Irish in the Premiership.
“I had contact with some clubs, discussions that were advanced,” he added. “But everything went cold. Now, I have nothing.”