Former France captain Thierry Dusautoir has announced that he will retire from rugby union at the end of the Top 14 season after 16 years as a professional.

The 35-year-old Toulouse flanker won 80 caps for Les Bleus, with a record 56 of those coming as skipper.

Dusautoir claimed three French titles across a five-year period from 2008 to 2012 with Toulouse, as well as a European triumph in 2010 and an additional two league trophies at fellow Top 14 club Biarritz in 2005 and 2006.

An emotional Dusautoir, who was named World Player of the Year in 2011 after leading France to the World Cup final, made his announcement at a press conference on Wednesday.

"This sport has changed my life and I owe it a great debt. I never thought I'd go on to have the career that I did." he said.

"If I'm emotional it's because I'm finishing my rugby playing career at the end of the season,
 
"It's a very special moment, charged with emotion for me but not sadness, as I'm going to be enthusiastically pursuing a new opening which I've begun to develop, a second life as a businessman."