IRELAND back row star CJ Stander has announced his shock retirement from rugby at the end of the season.
The 30-year-old South Africa native says he his hanging up his boots due to the sacrifices his family have had to make for his rugby career.
In a lengthy statement the Ireland forward star said: "During the lockdown, I did a stock-take of what matters most to me in life.
"My faith, family and this incredible game I have played since I was six years old easily topped the list.
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"However, I came to the realisation that my commitment to rugby has started to take an unfair toll on my family, who both in Limerick and South Africa have made considerable sacrifices for more than 25 years to allow me to live my dream.
"I am not saddened by my decision. I’ve had a full and utterly enjoyable rugby career, and I can now look back on a journey that offered me rewards, memories and surprises beyond anything I could have scripted for myself. I wouldn’t change a thing."
Stander has been at Munster since making the move from South Africa in 2012 and became eligible to play for Ireland in 2016.
He has 50 international caps and has played for Munster 150 times and was part of Ireland's Grand Slam winning side in the 2018 Six Nations.
In his statement Stander added: "It was during a freezing training session at Munster towards the end of 2020 that I just knew I had entered the final stretch of my career.
"I asked myself whether I was still enjoying this enough to earn the continued support of Munster and Ireland, and to justify the sacrifices my family was making. From a performance perspective, the answer was yes.
"But I always had the intent to retire while I was still playing some of my best rugby. I also knew I wanted my daughter Everli to grow up around her family in South Africa.
"When all these intentions and considerations intercepted each other during that training session, I discussed the implications thereof with coach Johann van Graan and the Irish Rugby Football Union.
"I deeply appreciate that they tried to persuade me otherwise, but I knew it was time.
"I will be playing my final matches as a professional athlete with contentment and gratitude for what was and for what lies ahead in the next chapter of my life."
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