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Wesley Fofana in action for Clermont in April. James Crombie/INPHO

Ex-France centre retires after injury issues

Fofana made his international debut in the 2012 Six Nations

FORMER FRANCE CENTRE Wesley Fofana said on Monday he was retiring as his body could no longer keep up with the demands of professional rugby.

Fofana, 34, who spent his whole senior career with Clermont, played the last of his 48 Tests in August 2019.

He made his international debut in the 2012 Six Nations, scoring in a 30-12 win over Italy and followed up with further tries in his next three matches against Scotland, Ireland and England.

Of his 15 Test tries, his most memorable was arguably a stunning 70-metre solo effort in a losing cause against England at Twickenham in 2013.

In May, the Parisian-born midfielder underwent surgery on his right bicep.

“After 15 years with Clermont and the great family of French rugby a chapter is turning for me,” Fofana said on social media.

“These past years were at times hard to manage. One obvious thing I noticed was that my body could no longer take the standard needed to play professional rugby now.

“So, I have made the decision to stop my career,” he added.

Fofana won the Top 14 in 2010 and 2017, was a losing finalist three times in the Champions Cup but won the Challenge Cup in 2019.

– © AFP 2022

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    Mute Liam Neeson
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    Sep 29th 2018, 11:46 AM

    Watching Jose and pogba, will be more entertaining than the football .

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    Mute Liam Neeson
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    Sep 29th 2018, 1:14 PM

    @Liam Neeson: it’s all going to plan for Jose.

    14
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    Mute Sean Conway
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    Sep 29th 2018, 11:51 AM

    C’mon you irons#.

    33
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    Mute Tuot tuot
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    Sep 29th 2018, 1:17 PM

    Ahahahahahahahahahaha pmsl

    19
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    Mute Paul
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    Sep 29th 2018, 1:20 PM

    @Tuot tuot: why are you laughing at a british club? Another case of my british club is better than your british club

    25
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    Mute John
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    Sep 29th 2018, 1:23 PM

    @Paul: nearly as bad as you commenting on a British club thread.

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    Mute Kurt Barlow
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    Sep 29th 2018, 1:28 PM

    @John: or commenting on somebody commenting …eh John

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    Mute Colin Ahern
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    Sep 29th 2018, 1:50 PM

    @Paul: and there is you speaking the queens english and probably watch English TV and use things made in Britain too.

    Give over you pleb

    15
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    Mute Seaniecp
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    Sep 29th 2018, 6:31 PM

    @Colin Ahern: I guess he also only supports irish home grown music and none of that foreign stuff too.

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Sep 29th 2018, 6:33 PM

    @Paul: Oh give over.it has always been this way and always will be.

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    Mute Murf T Will
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    Sep 29th 2018, 12:04 PM

    Pogba is at a stage where he doesn’t really care. He is on crazy money and his reputation after winning the world cup is an all time high. Maybe not witj fans but for Barcelona, real Madrid and psg boards he’s still worth 100 million. He could feasibly play poorly for years and swap between top clubs and earn the same money.

    23
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    Mute I'm not wavy gravy
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    Sep 29th 2018, 12:18 PM

    @Murf T Will: I was with you right up until the playing poorly for years bit. No one’s reputation is bullet proof! Just look at the likes of Torres, Rooney etc.

    26
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    Mute Murf T Will
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    Sep 29th 2018, 12:49 PM

    @Murf T Will: Rooney played poorly for years with United. He definitely milked it. They only shipped him out because he couldn’t run anymore.

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    Mute I'm not wavy gravy
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    Sep 29th 2018, 12:53 PM

    @Murf T Will: Yeah – with United. Then he moved to Everton didn’t he? It’s not like he’s been bouncing around the top clubs whilst playing poorly on the strength of his good reputation as you claim Pogba might.

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    Mute Murf T Will
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    Sep 29th 2018, 1:01 PM

    @Murf T Will: It was his reputation and nationality that kept him at United.

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    Mute Hugh Jass
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    Sep 29th 2018, 1:05 PM

    @I’m not wavy gravy: Yea Torres bounced from Liverpool to Chelsea to Atletico. Not really a dip in standard.

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    Mute I'm not wavy gravy
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    Sep 29th 2018, 1:10 PM

    @Hugh Jass: I see your point but Chelsea to Athletico was a huge drop in standard for Torres! Do you not remember how good he was at Liverpool? He’s lucky there was so much love for him at AM or he’d have been thrown into mid-table obscurity.

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    Mute I'm not wavy gravy
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    Sep 29th 2018, 1:14 PM

    @Murf T Will: And as soon as it was time to move clubs where did he go? Everton then Galaxy. Your original claim was that Pogba can play poorly for years and still secure high profile moves to the likes of Barca and Real Madrid. That’s clearly not the case.

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    Mute Murf T Will
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    Sep 29th 2018, 1:25 PM

    @Murf T Will: Yeah. Obviously with age you will move to lesser clubs with physical ability weakening. Up until 30 to 32 pogba will circulate the top clubs.

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    Mute Murf T Will
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    Sep 29th 2018, 1:31 PM

    @Murf T Will: And if he transfers to a club like spurs within that time I’ll personally go into your bank and pay off your mortgage.

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    Mute I'm not wavy gravy
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    Sep 29th 2018, 1:34 PM

    @Murf T Will: Haha alright, deal. I’ll meet you back here in ten years and we’ll see who’s right.

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    Mute Magnum
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    Sep 29th 2018, 12:38 PM

    Hope Rice has good game!

    13
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    Mute Lee Mac Eoghain
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    Sep 29th 2018, 2:20 PM

    @Magnum: Hes had a cracking game Magnum

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    Mute Colo J
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    Sep 29th 2018, 1:35 PM

    But but but but

    11
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    Mute Kurt Barlow
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    Sep 29th 2018, 1:30 PM

    Not good enough. I thought Jose would have till January to turn it around but I’m not so sure now

    9
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    Mute Markonline
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    Sep 29th 2018, 1:50 PM

    I”m getting sick of this, nobody fears man Utd anymore and by the looks of it, with good reason. Bottom of table clubs will be looking to take a point as a minimum and hope to take 3. Tough season ahead, top 4 looking dodgy for sure.

    9
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    Mute Johnny Bravo
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    Sep 29th 2018, 1:24 PM

    Hammers well worth their 2-0 lead. So much negativity surrounding the club ,players and manager. Score line doesn’t surprise me.In saying that I think it’s Woodward that needs to take a step back and let someone else take the reigns. He is a very astute businessman but not a Chief Executive.

    6
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    Mute Gareth Keenan
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    Sep 29th 2018, 1:40 PM

    @Johnny Bravo: so it’s Woodwards fault United are 2 nil down to a team that have only own a single league game this season?

    19
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    Mute Johnny Bravo
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    Sep 29th 2018, 1:54 PM

    @Gareth Keenan: He has been more or less head of the decision making in the last few years , so if you like yea he should shoulder some of the blame for today’s game and more. Does that explain it for you

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    Mute Gareth Keenan
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    Sep 29th 2018, 2:32 PM

    @Johnny Bravo: no it doesn’t actually. Manager and players are responsible for what happens on the pitch.

    5
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    Mute Johnny Bravo
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    Sep 29th 2018, 2:46 PM

    @Gareth Keenan’: who’s responsible for putting them there in the first place I ask you !

    2
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    Mute Michael cunnane
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    Sep 29th 2018, 2:05 PM

    haha such a crap performance again today from.the once mighty now shitey man United.Total laughing stock of a club from the manager down to the very poor egotistical players they have.Mourinho to stay on hopefully .They deserve each other .

    15
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    Mute Johnny Bravo
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    Sep 29th 2018, 2:09 PM

    @Michael cunnane: Micheal comeback when you’ve actually won something. Good lad

    5
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    Mute Maureen
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    Sep 29th 2018, 2:10 PM

    @Michael cunnane: Nearly as bad as Spurs performance at home to Liverpool! Scoreline flattered Spurs, should have been 5!

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    Mute David Carino
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    Sep 29th 2018, 2:23 PM

    @Michael cunnane: whereas Spuds have been shitey since the days of Ricky Villa and Ardiles

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    Mute David Carino
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    Sep 29th 2018, 2:23 PM

    @Michael cunnane: sorry you probably don’t know who they are

    3
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    Mute Michael cunnane
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    Sep 29th 2018, 2:25 PM

    @David Carino: Hahahahahahahaha 3-0 we outclassed ye at old crappord.Have that .Spurs light years ahead of United.Wakey wakey

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    Mute David Carino
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    Sep 29th 2018, 2:44 PM

    @Michael cunnane: yes so far ahead I can’t see because of the shine coming out of your Trophy drawer .

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    Mute Fintan O'Halloran
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    Sep 29th 2018, 1:21 PM

    So 2-0. Everything going to plan with Paul and Jose

    3
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    Mute Facundo
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    Sep 29th 2018, 2:07 PM

    Give Smalling and Shaw a pay rise! 4 million a year is nowhere near enough for this level of mediocre, overhyped talent. This is what I spend my hard earned barstooler euro on, so you better sort it Woodward!… Sure, it’s the best league in the world!

    3
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