All Blacks star 'Izzy' Dagg to walk down Sunset Boulevard
Updated 13:33, 05-Apr-2019
CGTN
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All Blacks fullback Israel Dagg has decided to hang his boots after grappling with a long-term knee injury. 
The 30-year-old, who won the 2011 World Cup for the New Zealand rugby team, announced on Friday that he will not be returning to the rugby field again after receiving medical advice.
While making his decision public, Dagg posted on Instagram, "As a little kid growing up in Hawkes Bay, I never in my wildest dreams thought I would have traveled the road I have with Rugby."
"Unfortunately my dream career has come to an end due to an increasingly painful and unfixable right knee, my rugby days are over," he added.
Israel Dagg (R) of the All Blacks celebrates after the 2011 IRB Rugby World Cup Final match between France and New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand, October 23, 2011. /VCG Photo

Israel Dagg (R) of the All Blacks celebrates after the 2011 IRB Rugby World Cup Final match between France and New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand, October 23, 2011. /VCG Photo

Dagg has played 66 tests for the All Blacks, and his last appearance for the two-time World Cup reigning champions came against Argentina in 2017.
He was brought into the invincible international rugby union side by former All Blacks coach Graham Henry and made his test debut against Ireland at the age of 22 in 2010. The next year, Dagg, popularly called "Izzy" played a pivotal role in the 2011 World Cup triumph by Henry's side.
He had scored five tries in five matches in the tournament and played as a fullback in the high-intensity, the low-scoring final against France.
In his sparkling eight-year international career, he has scored 26 tries in all for the All Blacks and set up countless others.
In the highly competitive world of Super Rugby, Dagg has played a total of 112 matches for the Otago Highlanders and the Canterbury Crusaders, claiming back-to-back titles with the latter in 2017-18.  
Israel Dagg of New Zealand is tackled by Matias Alemanno of Argentina during the Rugby Championship match at Yarrow Stadium in New Plymouth, New Zealand, September 9, 2017. /VCG Photo

Israel Dagg of New Zealand is tackled by Matias Alemanno of Argentina during the Rugby Championship match at Yarrow Stadium in New Plymouth, New Zealand, September 9, 2017. /VCG Photo

Dagg's illustrious career came to a halt when he suffered a season-ending knee injury in his final test in 2017. Since then he could manage to make only a handful of appearances for the Crusaders during their successful title defense last year.
He, however, clarified that he would continue at the reigning Super Rugby champions in a mentoring role for the rest of the season. 
In a New Zealand Rugby media statement, he said, "While it's bittersweet to mark the end of my playing career, I'm grateful to still be able to contribute to this Crusaders team in 2019 and help prepare some of the younger squad members to take the next step in their own careers." 
"On a personal note, I'm looking forward to taking on some new challenges in the future, and looking forward to spending more time with my young family," he informed.