Former Wales and Cardiff centre Willis Halaholo has announced his retirement from professional rugby.

The 36-year-old confirmed the news on social media, admitting that while “the mind is still keen to carry on”, he feels “the body has had enough.”

Auckland-born Halaholo qualified for Wales through residency rules and won the last of his nine Wales caps in April 2022, having also gone on to represent Tonga on three occasions.

He began his playing days in New Zealand with Southland, before moving on to Waikato and then Hurricanes, where he claimed a Super Rugby title.

Halaholo made the switch to Wales in 2016 to join Cardiff, going on to make more than 100 appearances for the region across an eight-year spell – a period that included a lengthy 12 months on the sidelines with serious leg injuries.

He left the Arms Park at the end of the 2023-24 season, returning to New Zealand to play for National Provincial Championship side Bay of Plenty.

Halaholo, who revealed he had been carrying a series of niggling injuries, struck a proud tone in looking back on his career.

“Not everyone gets to wear those jerseys,” he added.

He now plans to move into coaching as the next chapter of his career in the game.

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