Wallabies veteran James Slipper announces retirement from Test rugby as James O’Connor dropped

The Wallabies’ most capped player, James Slipper, will play his last Test on Saturday.

Rugby Australia announced on Wednesday that Slipper will bow out of Test rugby after this weekend’s Bledisloe Cup match in Perth.

After bringing up his 150th Test last week in Australia’s loss to the All Blacks, Slipper will draw the curtain on a decorated career that began in 2010. Slipper will still play for the Brumbies in next year’s Super Rugby season.

“Representing the Wallabies has been the single proudest achievement of my rugby career and a privilege I have never taken for granted,” Slipper said in a statement.

“As a young kid on the Gold Coast playing backyard footy with my brothers, it was a dream to pull on the gold jersey, and to be able to say I’ve lived my dream for what’s coming on 16 years is more than I could ever have asked for.

“It feels like the right time for me to step away from Test rugby. There’s a number of good young props coming through who will need time in the saddle leading into what’s going to be an unbelievable experience of a home Rugby World Cup in 2027.

“It will also allow me to spend more quality time with my wife, Kara, and two young daughters, Lily and Ava, which is something that I owe to them after 16 years of full-time professional rugby.

“There’s plenty of people I need to thank, and I’ll do that when the time is right, but for now, my focus is on preparing well to finish The Rugby Championship in a positive manner with the team.”