Wallabies great Will Genia has officially announced his retirement, closing the book on a remarkable 20-year career that saw him become one of Australia’s most influential scrumhalves.

The 37-year-old played 110 Tests for the Wallabies between 2009 and 2019, captaining his country and finishing as the seventh-most capped Australian of all time. After his final Test at the 2019 World Cup, Genia moved to Japan where he turned out for Kintetsu Liners, adding to club stints with the Queensland Reds, Melbourne Rebels and Stade Français.

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“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,” Genia posted on Instagram.

“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 composure, sniping runs and crisp service made him a mainstay in gold for more than a decade, with his partnership alongside Quade Cooper at the Reds and Wallabies one of the defining combinations of his era. He was central to Queensland’s 2011 Super Rugby title – their first and only championship – and remains regarded as one of the finest No 9s to pull on the Wallaby jersey.

Tributes poured in, led by Cooper, who wrote: “What a ride my brother. It’s been a pleasure and grateful to have done it with you.”

Current Wallabies scrumhalf Nic White hailed him as “one of the greats”, while Israel Folau added: “Legend bro. What a career.”

Genia bows out with his legacy secure, not only as a Wallabies centurion and leader, but as one of the sharpest minds and most dynamic halfbacks of the professional era.

© Agence France-Presse

Photo: Dirk Kotze/Gallo Images