Wallabies veteran to hang up Test boots after World Cup

NEWS: Wallabies veteran Sekope Kepu has announced he will retire from international rugby at the end of 2019 following the Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Kepu became just the ninth Australian Test centurion when he played New Zealand in Yokohama last year, and the first-ever Australian prop to bring up the milestone.

The 2019 edition in Japan will be the 33-year old’s third Rugby World Cup before he links with English Premiership side, London Irish, next year.

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Kepu said: "It’s going to very special. It’s another massive challenge and something I’m definitely looking forward to, running out in front of family and friends as well as our home fans for the last time this year.

"I’ll let my wife contact all the friends and relatives that want to come along to the game but it will just be a great day to play against Samoa. It’s going to be a hell of a week and I’m definitely looking forward to it.

"I never thought I would have achieved that milestone [playing 100 Tests] and to have done so, it’s something that makes me feel very privileged and fortunate.

"There’s guys pushing for spots everywhere now. We have quality depth in Australian Rugby and I’ll be looking from afar and just excited about what we have. Guys like Allan [Alaalatoa] and Taniela [Tupou], they have now established themselves at Test level and then Scotty [Sio], Slips [James Slipper], Tolu [Latu] and Folau [Fainga’a] and all those guys – and now we can play anyone in that front row and you can guarantee they are going to do the job, no matter who we are playing," Kepu said.

Kepu made his Test debut 11 years ago against Italy in Padova before earning his first Test start against Samoa in Sydney in 2011. This Saturday’s Test against Samoa at Bankwest Stadium is now set to be his last game on Australian soil.

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