Wallabies centurion prop Sekope Kepu has confirmed that he will retire from international rugby following the conclusion of the Rugby World Cup in Japan later this year.
Kepu is set to head for English shores when
the tournament finishes to join-up with new club London Irish and will make his
final home appearance for the Wallabies as they take on Samoa this Saturday.
“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,” he said.
Kepu is the first ever prop to have received
over a 100-caps for the gold and green and is only the ninth player in the
country’s history to reach milestone.
“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,” he added.
Having made the first of his many
appearances against Italy 11 years ago the 33-year-old will now hope for
success in Japan when he heads to his third World Cup.
As mentioned above his final home appearance
for the Wallabies will be this Saturday against Samoa where this achievement’s
in the Aussie jersey will be celebrated at full-time.
