One of the most respected names in French rugby brought the curtain down on an illustrious career after Saturday's Heineken Cup Final in Paris.
Jean-Baptiste Elissalde of Toulouse chose the 21-19 triumph over Biarritz Olympique at the Stade de France to announce his retirement from the game.
Moments after picking up his third winners medal with Toulouse, the 32-year-old French international scrum-half revealed he is quitting the game and moving into coaching.
The 35-times capped Elissalde has been at Toulouse since 2002 - he was first capped from La Rochelle - and will bring down the curtain on his career by appearing for the Barbarians against Ireland and England.
"It has been a very complicated season for me because of injuries and the fact I haven't been able to play in the Grand Slam made it very hard for me," said Elissalde, who failed to get on to the pitch in Toulouse's fourth European win and will end his career on 49 Heineken Cup appearances.
A Grand Slam winner with France in 2004, he also won the Six Nations title in 2006 and 2007.
A groin injury suffered against Castres Olympic on 8 May left him in doubt for the final, but he was an unused replacement as his side made history in the continent's showpiece event.
