Stephen Moore has revealed a frank conversation with Queensland Reds coach Brad Thorne helped him bring forward his retirement from rugby by 12 months.
The 34-year-old former Wallabies skipper will play his 129th and final Test this Saturday against Scotland in Edinburgh but was contracted to the Reds for one more year.
However, after sitting down with the new Reds boss before jetting out to Japan and the UK for the spring tour the pair decided it would be a good time to hang the boots up permanently.
"There was a combination of things, I've been looking forward to what I will be doing after rugby, and that came forward about six months," Moore said.
"I had to make a decision there as to whether to play rugby and there was a possibility of doing a bit of both.
"But I spoke to Brad Thorn about it and we decided it was probably best to finish up this year and I think that is the absolute best decision for me and for the team.
"The Reds can now move forward for next year and they have a good young squad that Brad can work with."
Moore's wife and three children in addition to members of his family from Ireland will be at Murrayfield on Saturday, the ground where he made his first full international start under John Connolly in 2006.
"I was pretty nervous, it was pretty ordinary conditions and 'Knuckles' (Connolly) was going to replace me at halftime as it wasn't going too well at the line-out," he said.
"But we managed to sort things out and we got the win and I scored a try too which was great so it was a good day all round."
Jordan Uelese, who is enjoying his first taste of a spring tour and is in pole position to be the long-term first-choice hooker, said Moore has been a huge help to him.
"He is a player I have tried to emulate," Uelese said.
"The professionalism he shows, I guess he has taken me under his wing from day one and I always pick his brain and try to add his assets to my game.
"I don't think you will find a person better than Stephen and the professionalism he shows.
"He is the 24-hour athlete."
Moore made his Wallabies debut in June 2005 and played in three Rugby World Cups, including the 2015 edition as captain.
He made his Wallabies debut in June 2005 and represented his country at three Rugby World Cups, including the 2015 edition as captain.
He has played for the Reds and Brumbies in Super Rugby, amassing 177 games to be second on the all-time appearance list.
