With the Rugby World Cup 2003 drawn to a close, the international Tournament has seen the last of some of the most influential players of the past decade.
Fabien Galthié -Debuting against Romania in 1991, Fabien Galthié has been a dominant force in French rugby ever since. Accumulating 64 test caps and four Rugby World Cups in a glittering career, the scrum half will now go on to work in the French media and as an official ambassador to help his nation prepare to host the next RWC in 2007, as well as supporting Paris’s bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games.
George Gregan - Though making no decisions on his immediate retirement, Gregan has announced that Saturday night's dramatic final against England will be his last Rugby World Cup match. The Australian skipper, with 95 caps, is the most capped scrum half in the history of test rugby. In his third and final Rugby World Cup and with one Tournament victory in 1999, Gregan has been a dominant figure in the Wallaby side since arriving on the scene in 1994.
Martin Johnson -One of the top lock forwards of his generation, Johnson capped his 84 test cap career on Saturday by leading his side to the most treasured prize known to his sport, winning the Rugby World Cup. Debuting in 1993, Johnson has been an integral part of English rugby ever since (with the exception of the 1994 South Africa tour) and at 33 is the oldest man to ever lift the Webb Ellis Cup. Age would suggest that 2003, his third RWC, is also his last.
Lawrence Dallaglio - Another English forward who has dominated the international rugby scene in the late 1990s, 31 year old Dallaglio's second Rugby World Cup is also likely his last. A 65 test capped No.8 - 14 as captain - Dallaglio helped his side to be crowned World Champions in 2003 with an inspirational game up front alongside Johnson.
Keith Wood - The son of former Irish and Lions hooker, Gordon, Keith Wood has been on the international scene for nearly a decade, having made his debut against Australia in Brisbane in July 1994 and gone on to win 58 Test caps. Leading his men from hooker for a national record of 33 times, Wood was the first ever recipient of the International Rugby Board player of the year and competed in three RWCs.
Joost Van der Westhuizen - South Africa’s most capped player with 89 Tests played in three Rugby World Cup Tournaments. With his last match for South Africa being the 2003 quarter final loss to New Zealand, the scrum half is his nation's top try scorer with 38 in his 10 years on the international scene, and the last member of the Springboks’ victorious Rugby World Cup 1995 team to retire.
Bryan Redpath - The Scotland captain finished his third and final RWC when his side went down 33-16 to Tournament finalists Australia in Brisbane. With 60 caps, 21 as captain, the tough scrum half made his debut against New Zealand from the bench in 1993 and established himself as a regular in his national side.
Al Charron - The 76 test veteran played in his fourth and final RWC Tournament after recovering from major knee reconstruction in June. Canada’s most capped player and at 37 the oldest player involved in Rugby World Cup 2003, Charron debuted in March 1990 against Argentina in Burnaby. A permanent feature at flanker for the Maple Leaves, Charron took over the captaincy in 1999 and played his last match in the Pool D 24-7 defeat of Tonga.
Rolando Martin - The Argentinian flanker became his country's most capped player during the 2003 Tournament with 83 tests. Debuting against the USA in 1994, the Puma played his third and final RWC Tournament following a heartbreaking 16-15 defeat by Ireland which ended their hopes of a second successive Rugby World Cup quarter final.
Waisale Serevi - The second longest serving international to compete at Rugby World Cup 2003, fly half cum full back Waisale Serevi has been labelled a genius by many for his ability to thrill fans with his inventive forms of running rugby. Finishing his RWC career with four Tournaments, Serevi made his debut for Fiji in their 38-17 loss to Scotland at Murrayfield in October 1989.
Brian Lima - In his fourth Rugby World Cup, Brian Lima is the only player from Western Samoa’s historic victory against Wales on their Rugby World Cup debut in 1991 – the first emerging nation to beat an established country – still playing on the international scene. The wing/centre made his debut in Western Samoa’s 41-13 defeat of fellow Pacific Islanders Tonga in 1991 and has gone on to win 54 caps and score 30 tries.
Colin Charvis - Versatile Welsh flanker Colin Charvis played two Rugby World Cups and finished his time as a RWC player leading his side in two of the stand out matches of the 2003 Tournament. Though Wales lost to New Zealand and England in their final two matches, it was the unexpectedly robust opposition of the Charvis inspired Red Devils that has given Welsh rugby a encouraging future. Debuting back in 1996 as a 23-year-old, facing Australia in Cardiff, Charvis won 64 caps, 14 of which as captain.