110-cap Smith retires from Wallabies duty

AUSTRALIA flanker George Smith has announced his retirement from international rugby at the age of 29.

The Brumbies star has won 110 caps for his country – one of only four Wallabies, and 10 players in total, to reach three figures – since his debut against France in 2000, scoring nine tries in that time and captaining the side on seven occasions.

But he has now requested an early end to his Australian Rugby Union contract to explore other options and will be released by club and country when the Super 14 season finishes at the end of May – a year ahead of the scheduled conclusion of his deal, which was to run until the 2011 World Cup.