Former All Blacks prop Greg Somerville thought his Super rugby career ended when he helped hoist Reuben Thorne from AMI Stadium at the end of the Crusaders triumphant campaign in 2008.
Instead, a meaningless season-ending match for the Melbourne Rebels and Western Force in Melbourne tonight marks the end of the durable front rower's illustrious playing career.
Somerville told his Rebels teammates yesterday that he would not be fulfilling the second year of his contract at Super rugby's newest franchise.
The 33-year-old, one of the Rebels most experienced and consistent performers, said a series of minor injuries convinced him the time was right to retire with a view to possibly enter the coaching game.
"After so many years the niggles continued to be there week in, week out and having to push through them has got to me in the end," he said.
Rebels head coach Rod Macqueen regretted Somerville's decision and appreciated his contribution as a cornerstone of the Rebels pack.
"He basically said: 'There's a time in your life where you've got to make a decision' and he thought that he's had a good year and he felt the time was right now to hang up his boots," Macqueen said.
Somerville, whose 66 test caps was the most by an All Blacks prop until he was overtaken by Tony Woodcock last year, was unsure what the future held.
"I wouldn't rule out coaching, I love being part of the rugby environment," he said.
Somerville made his provincial debut for Canterbury in 1998 and started his Super rugby career the following year, featuring in six championship-winning Crusaders teams as he racked up 115 appearances.
He played his last test when the All Blacks and Wallabies played the first offshore Bledisloe Cup test in Hong Kong three years ago and signed for the Rebels after a stint in England with Gloucester.
Somerville is not alone in hanging up his boots tonight (9.40pmNZT) - former Crusaders and Chiefs lock Kevin O'Neill and former Wallabies and Queensland halfback Sam Cordingley are also quitting the game after injury meant they made only cameo appearances for the Rebels.
O'Neill, who played one test for the All Blacks in 2008, is named on the bench tonight while Cordingley will watch from the stands.
