Après avoir décidé de quitter le XV de la rose la saison dernière, Josh Lewsey (32 ans) rangera ses crampons en cette fin de saison. Il reste 2 matchs à jouer avec les Wasps, et il souhaiterait finir sa carrière avec une sélection pour les Lions britanniques en mai prochain.
Un joueur qui aura donc passé 10 ans avec le club londonnien et dont le palmarès est tout simplement hallucinant (Champion du monde 2003, Grand Chelem 2003, double vainqueur de la HCup 2001 et 2004, quadruple vainqueur du championnat anglais 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008 ... etc ..), sans compter tout son parcours hors du terrain, bref tout est résumé sur l'article ci après en anglais (source : http://www.wasps.co.uk/news/wasps30645.ink) :
Lewsey to hang up his boots at the end of the season
London Wasps Club servant and stalwart of professional rugby, Josh Lewsey, has today announced his plans to retire from the game at the close of the season.
With the men in black and gold, Lewsey has achieved more than most on the domestic stage collecting four Premiership titles, two domestic cups, a European Challenge Cup and two European Cups, as well as an international honours list which includes 55 caps and 22 tries for his country, a World Cup, Grand Slam and three British and Irish Lions caps.
His decision to retire comes as Wasps enter into the last of their three remaining fixtures of 2008/09, facing Newcastle Falcons at Adams Park this afternoon. The 32 year old utility back who has graced the pitch 259 times for his Club scoring 385 points to date, will be eager to ensure his side go out on a high following an illustrious 10 year career with the Club. As well as completing his duties with the Wasps - the Club that has helped him develop into one of the most respected figures in the game - Lewsey has a burning desire to end his playing record with an inclusion in the 2009 British and Irish Lions touring party, not ruling himself out for selection for the trip to South Africa in May.
A man with an impressive repertoire not only on pitch but away from the game, Lewsey will post rugby, add to his degrees in physiology and law, involvement with the 7Para RHA part of the 16th Air Assault Brigade and trek through Baltoro Glacier to base camp of K2, with the role of management consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Working in the area of organisational performance, this will be a position that does not start until the next trek in his sights – Everest – is completed.
Lewsey and Major Keith Reesby - a Lynx pilot in the Army air corps and a friend from his army years - will prepare for the ultimate challenge; an attempt on the summit of Everest, in July 2010. Applying themselves from August to months of instruction from a company specialising in Everest ascents, they will climb peaks in practice beginning in Scotland before graduating to a 7,000-metre peak in the Himalayas.
Typical to Lewsey’s multi-faceted career, he has not ruled out a return to the sport in the future and has already enjoyed time coaching with various youth teams and Richmond Ladies. Whether he pursues coaching in the future, his achievements on the field and contribution to the Club and international game will not be forgotten. Lewsey will be sorely missed by all those who follow Wasps and hopefully it will be on the back of three strong performances for his Club, that he hangs up his boots eager to end the season and his career with a strong finish.
Player Fact File
Owen Joshua Lewsey
DOB: 30.11.1976 (32)
Joined London Wasps: 1998
Previous Clubs: Bristol
Club Appearances to date: 259, points: 395 (77 tries)
Club Honours: Premiership titles 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008; domestic cups 1999, 2000; Anglo-Welsh Cup 2006; European Challenge Cup 2003; European Cup 2004, 2007.
International Honours: England, 55 caps, 22 tries, World Cup winner 2003, Grand Slam 2003; Lions tour to New Zealand 2005, three caps.
Sujet: Josh Lewsey prendra sa retraite en fin de saison 
