France captain Thierry Dusautoir has announced his retirement from international rugby.

Dusautoir won 80 Test caps for Les Bleus and captained the team 56 times, more than any other French player. He also represented his country in three World Cups (2007, 2011 and 2015) and was named World Player of the Year in 2011 after leading France to the World Cup final.

The 34-year-old said he had discussed his future with new France head coach Guy Novès, who also coached at Toulouse, where the flanker plays in the Top 14.

'I saw him on Friday,' Dusautoir said. 'We arrived at the same conclusions. That is why I am convinced that my choice is dictated by reason. If I had tried to continue, forcing it, I would have shown more vanity than anything else. I believe that this is the wisest decision.

'My personality has always been to give my maximum to the French team and to my club before thinking about myself. Although I am proud and ambitious, I think I am also someone who is honest,' he concluded.

Photo: Gabriel Bouys/AFP Photo