Marshall amassed 81 caps for the mighty All Blacks, after winning his first cap at the age of 19, during his first full season with Canterbury, in New Zealand.
Marshall appeared in two World Cups – in 1999 and 2003 – and also helped the Crusaders to lift the then Super 12 tournament four times (1998, 1999, 2000 and 2002), before moving to Europe in 2005 to play for Leeds. He went on to play for the Ospreys and Montpellier in France before joining Saracens in January of 2009, where he has remained since.
Justin Marshall is 36 years old, and will be moving back to New Zealand with his wife and children where he will take a role as a television rugby pundit. In his retirement announcement, Marshall thanked the support of his family in following him across the world with his rugby, he also thanked the many players and clubs who he has worked with along the way:
“I have to thank my wife Nicolle and my children for supporting me during this period.
My career has made massive demands on them, and now we are all looking forward to going home to New Zealand and settling into something like a normal family life.
I just feel immensely grateful to all the talented players and coaches who have made my career so enjoyable and memorable.”
Saracens are due to play in the Premiership semi-final this weekend against Northampton: there could yet be another trophy for Justin Marshall should they win. If they fail, it will be Marshall’s last game of competitive rugby.
