Huddersfield and England star Jermaine McGillvary retires from international rugby league

England winger Jermaine McGillvary has announced his retirement from international rugby league with immediate effect.

The Huddersfield Giants star turned 34 last month but was a part of national boss Shaun Wane’s latest squad and has been in excellent form in Betfred Super League. Many people expected McGillvary to push hard for a place at the World Cup at the end of this season but he has now called time on a fine Test career.

A latecomer to the international scene, he did not debut with England until facing New Zealand at the age of 27 in 2015. But the powerful wideman went on to represent his country with distinction, scoring 12 tries in 17 appearances before adding another four caps with Great Britain in 2019. However, it was the 2017 World Cup where McGillvary came of age with a brilliant tournament Down Under.

He scored seven tries in five appearances, ran more metres than any other player in the competition and played in the final which England narrowly lost against Australia in Brisbane. McGillvary was nominated for the Golden Boot as the world’s greatest player.

Ironically, though, his last appearance on the international stage was against England when - not needed by Wane - he scored for the Combined Nations All Stars in their win last June. Huddersfield-born McGillvary said: “It’s not a decision I’ve taken lightly. I’ve given it a lot of thought and it feels like the right time.

“When I started out I never believed I would represent my country, but I’m immensely proud of what I’ve achieved. The 2017 World Cup was the pinnacle of my career: the whole experience – on and off the field –was incredible. I went from being an unknown to being in demand from NRL agents, got to play alongside the likes of Sean