Legendary South African speed machine Bryan Habana has announced his retirement from the game at the end of the current season.

“The inevitable moment has come knocking on my door and I’ve welcomed it in for a drink. So at the end of this season, it’s time to say goodbye and thank you to the game I so dearly love,” he posted on social media.

The 34-year-old will finish up as one of the most decorated players we have had the pleasure of watching. He is the all-time leading scorer for the Springboks with 67 tries in 124 Tests, and has racked up an incredible 79 tries in 184 matches for the Bulls and Stormers in Super Rugby, and with current side Toulon in the French Top 14 and Champions Cup.

He helped the Springboks to the William Webb Ellis Trophy in 2007, scoring eight tries in the process to equal the record of Jonah Lomu for most tries at a World Cup tournament, and went on to match Lomu’s record of 15 World Cup tries overall at the 2015 tournament in England.

He was also voted IRB (now World Rugby) Player of the Year in 2007, and two years later, enjoyed a 2-1 series win with the Springboks over the touring British & Irish Lions.

At domestic level he bagged two Currie Cups (2009, 2012), scoring 28 tries in 43 appearances; two Super Rugby titles with the Bulls (2007, 2009); and so far, has two Heineken/Champions Cup titles (2014, 2015) and one French Top 14 Championship (2014) from his time with Toulon in the South of France.

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CURRIE CUP

2003–2004 Golden Lions – Appearances: 21  Tries: 17
2005–2009 Blue Bulls – Appearances: 14  Tries: 9
2010–2013 Western Province – Appearances: 8  Tries: 2

SUPER RUGBY

2005–2009 Bulls – Appearances: 61  Tries: 37
2010–2013 Stormers – Appearances: 57  Tries: 19

TOP 14 / CHAMPIONS CUP

2013–present Toulon – Appearances: 66  Tries: 23

INTERNATIONAL

2004 South Africa Under-21 – Appearances: 3  Tries: 3
2004, 2016 South Africa Sevens – Appearances: 4  Tries: 3
2004–2016 South Africa (test) – Appearances: 124  Tries: 67