NPR

The boy from Trebanos retires from international rugby with immediate effect.
Thank you Justin you have been a great player and will be sorely missed.

C69 wrote: Fri May 19, 2023 2:49 pm The boy from Trebanos retires from international rugby with immediate effect.
Thank you Justin you have been a great player and will be sorely missed.

Bit of a shock just months before the RWC. Superb player when at the top of his game
What about this one? Not so much a shock I guess? Never liked the moany bastard but boy what an internationaal record

Wonder if they were both told that they wouldn't make the squad foir the RWC

SaintK wrote: Fri May 19, 2023 3:03 pm Wonder if they were both told that they wouldn't make the squad foir the RWC

Must be the case. Can't imagine they'd have waited until now to announce it otherwise.

Great international careers.

Odd timing of announcements but potentially understandable if tipped they were long shots for squad.

Not even on the injury reserves then.
Tips was never really a "Gats" player but AWJ was one of the key men of that whole era.

Uncle fester wrote: Fri May 19, 2023 4:18 pm Not even on the injury reserves then.
Tips was never really a "Gats" player but AWJ was one of the key men of that whole era.

Would you bust your gut to stay fit on the periphery of the squad on the off chance that you might get called up to hold tackle bags?

Uncle fester wrote: Fri May 19, 2023 4:18 pm Not even on the injury reserves then.
Tips was never really a "Gats" player but AWJ was one of the key men of that whole era.

Gats isn't the sentimental type when it comes to how players end their careers, just ask BOD !

CM11 wrote: Fri May 19, 2023 4:37 pm

Uncle fester wrote: Fri May 19, 2023 4:18 pm Not even on the injury reserves then.
Tips was never really a "Gats" player but AWJ was one of the key men of that whole era.

Would you bust your gut to stay fit on the periphery of the squad on the off chance that you might get called up to hold tackle bags?

Rumour mill saying that they were both told they would not make the final squad. So yes, quite, why would you want to even start when you can have the summer off!!!

Slightly odd they were in the initial squad?

Two absolutely terrific players, I can't say I liked them as more often than not they were involved in dismantling Scotland, but I admired them greatly.

CM11 wrote: Fri May 19, 2023 4:37 pm

Uncle fester wrote: Fri May 19, 2023 4:18 pm Not even on the injury reserves then.
Tips was never really a "Gats" player but AWJ was one of the key men of that whole era.

Would you bust your gut to stay fit on the periphery of the squad on the off chance that you might get called up to hold tackle bags?

It's what all the other reserve players do.

Uncle fester wrote: Fri May 19, 2023 10:28 pm

CM11 wrote: Fri May 19, 2023 4:37 pm

Uncle fester wrote: Fri May 19, 2023 4:18 pm Not even on the injury reserves then.
Tips was never really a "Gats" player but AWJ was one of the key men of that whole era.

Would you bust your gut to stay fit on the periphery of the squad on the off chance that you might get called up to hold tackle bags?

It's what all the other reserve players do.

Reserve players who have pretty much no chance of a future in an international squad?