Former Springbok wing Bryan Habana says he was fit enough to keep playing.

Habana retired from rugby on Tuesday after a glittering career that saw him earn 124 Test caps and win the 2007 World Cup.

The 34-year-old has since revealed that while he had recovered from a knee injury and regained full fitness, Toulon coach Fabien Galthié had opted not to select him.

‘I returned to training five months ago,’ he told AFP. ‘The medical teams told me I was fit. Not to play is not my choice.

‘I repeat, I have worked really hard for nine months to come back and I have not had the opportunity to play again.’

Habana, who won the French Top 14 title and two European Champion Cups with Toulon, said he was disappointed not to retire on a high.

‘Jonny Wilkinson retired after a double [in the European Cup with Toulon]. Richie McCaw quit after becoming a world champion.

‘Me, I was unable to do this. To stop this season, it’s really tough. But this is the way things are. When I look at the past, I can say to myself, well it was just one season that wasn’t great.’

Photo: Bertrand Langlois/AFP Photo