Ireland fly-half David Humphreys has announced his retirement from international rugby.
The 34-year-old won 72 caps but was an unused replacement throughout the recent Six Nations campaign which yielded a Triple Crown for the Irish.
The European Cup winner's absence will leave a giant void in Ireland's half-back line, with no challenger to incumbent Ronan O'Gara on the horizon.
Humphreys has agreed a one-year deal to continue playing with Ulster.
With a young family growing up and a professional career as a solicitor waiting to be kick-started, the Ballymena-born man's decision to quit the Test scene comes after months of personal angst.
Covering for O'Gara until the end of the next World Cup in 2007 was not the most attractive or fulfilling prospect for a player who excelled in a green shirt, scoring 560 points.
"This was not a decision that I came to lightly and I have thought about it a lot in recent months.
"It has been an enormous privilege to play for Ireland for 11 years but for family and rugby reasons, now is the time to call it a day.
"I will be able to concentrate more on playing for Ulster now and it is exciting to be part of an emerging team and hopefully play more rugby than I have been."
Irish coach Eddie O'Sullivan had indicated a desire to see Humphreys form part of the Ireland World Cup squad.
"I would love him to be available for the World Cup. He's a world class player and he's still playing great rugby," O'Sullivan told BBC Sport during the Six Nations championship.