Wallabies great Will Genia calls time on illustrious career

Former Australia captain Will Genia has confirmed his retirement from rugby at the age of 37, bringing the curtain down on one of the most distinguished careers in Wallabies history, Sport360NG reports.

The dynamic scrum-half earned 110 Test caps between 2009 and 2019, placing him seventh on the nation’s all-time appearances list. He captained the side on several occasions and featured in three Rugby World Cups, becoming the 78th player to lead the Wallabies.

Genia, who reached the milestone of 100 caps against England at Twickenham in 2018, reflected on his journey in a heartfelt message on Instagram.
“Thank you to the teams, my teammates, coaches, teachers, friends and all the wonderful people in the game who helped me, guided me, shaped me, included me, put up with me and made me better,” he wrote. “Thank you to the fans for making the game what it is. Finally, thank you rugby for all the joy. It was always the game and then everything else.”

Genia’s international highlight came in 2011 when he was shortlisted for the IRB Player of the Year award after starring at the World Cup in New Zealand, where Australia reached the semi-finals.

At club level, he enjoyed spells with the Queensland Reds, Melbourne Rebels, and French side Stade Français before closing his career in Japan with the Kintetsu Liners.

Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh paid tribute, describing him as “a world-class number nine who starred on international rugby’s grandest stages for more than a decade.” He added: “He has the rare distinction of captaining his country and playing a leading role in some of his generation’s most famous matches.”