Former France captain Raphael Ibanez was forced to end his rugby playing career on his 36th birthday on Tuesday because of a series of concussions.

After three head injuries this season while leading English club Wasps and a two-month rest period after which he was still feeling effects, a neurosurgeon recommended he stop playing immediately.

"We all agreed that to avoid a bad injury it is time for me to stop playing," Ibanez said. "I tried everything to come back onto the pitch but it is just too risky."

Ibanez, who joined Wasps from Saracens in 2005, helped the club win the Heineken Cup in 2007 and the English Premiership last year. He will continue to coach in their academy.

He started at his hometown club Dax, and also played for Castres Olympique, and Perpignan.

Ibanez retired from international rugby in January 2008 as France's third most capped player, with 98.

After making his Test debut in 1996, he captained France to the 1999 World Cup final, helped France reach the 2003 semi-finals, and returned to captain the side to the 2007 semi-finals on home soil.

In the Five/Six Nations, he helped France win four titles, the first two grand slams in 1998 and 2002, and the second pair in successive years, 2006 and 2007.

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