Wallaby lock Rob Simmons has all but confirmed a move from the New South Wales Waratahs to London Irish.
The 31-year-old, who can also play in the back-row, won his 100th international cap against Georgia in Shizuoka at the Rugby World Cup in Japan last October.
"I don't know if I always had wanted to do it if you'd asked me six or seven years ago," Simmons told the Herald.
"But as I've got older and had more experiences … it became apparent you've only got a certain lifetime to do so. It was an opportunity that came up and I didn't want to miss it.
"I said to the club I want to play until the end of the Super competition and give everything I've got until the end. That was pretty important to me.
"It wasn't an easy decision, especially being captain of the group. I've always got a soft spot for this team and I'll be watching it from afar. I've tried to give everything I can in a short period of time, even before captaincy."
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LIST | Rugby internationals who lost a ton of weight in retirement
Below is a look at five players who lost a ton of weight after their rugby union careers ended.
1. Phil Vickery (England)
The World Cup-winning prop has transformed his body since hanging up his boots. Vickery, who won the 2011 series of Celebrity Masterchef, has recently opened his new Cheltenham restaurant, No.3, after the Coronavirus pandemic delayed first orders. He's literally half the man he used to be.
2. Matt Dunning (Australia)
When he was a prop for the Wallabies Matt Dunning weighed 130kg and was constantly mocked for his tubby frame. But since retiring from rugby union the 35-year-old has lost a staggering 40kg, dropping from 25 per cent body fat to just 11 per cent in six months.
3. James Haskell (England)
The former England flanker - who signed for MMA promotion Bellator last August - after his retirement from rugby has dropped a ton of weight ahead of his first fight. A trip into I'm A Celebrity Get Me out Of here sure did help him get lean. This sort of diet isn't recommended.
4. Lee Mears (England)
The former Bath and England international rugby player retired from the game due to a life-threatening heart condition. Trying to stay healthy has since became a priority and it's fair to say he's looking amazing!
