Sunday will see farewells to at least three Wales international Rugby League players when the Dragons take on Australia at the Glyndŵr University Racecourse Stadium in Wrexham (kick-off 5.45pm).
In addition to Lee Briers, who announced his international retirement on Friday, Ian Watson and Chris Beasley will also both be playing their last game for Wales.
If selected, 35-year old half-back Watson will win his 31st and final record extending Wales cap but he will continue playing for Swinton Lions as assistant player-coach in 2012.
“I spoke to my wife and family and I’ve been doing this for a long time now,” he said. “Whether it’s for one game, two, three or four, I’ve always had end of season commitments.
“The last few years especially have been really positive, winning the European Cup twice and qualifying for the Four Nations. It’s been a massive boost to have been involved and with all the young players coming through the ranks, I think that Wales have a really bright future.”
Beasley, who spent four years at Celtic Crusaders between 2006 and 2009, is retiring not just from Wales, but from all Rugby League.
The 28-year old has spent the last two years at Central Comets in the Queensland Cup, a division just below the NRL in Australia, and at the same time, took training to become a fireman.
Now his work in his new profession has become more extensive so he has decided to concentrate on his new career and kick Rugby League into touch following the Wrexham encounter.
“I am retiring after the game against the Aussies,” Beasley confirms. “With my Job as a firefighter as well as family commitments, it is has become increasing difficult to train and play at the standard that it is require to perform at a high level.
“It will be a surreal experience playing against my country of birth but I think it will be the perfect way to end my career by testing myself against the best players in the world.
“Playing for Wales for the past three years has been the highlight of my career and something that I will remember for the rest of my life. To see us from where we were in 2009 when I started playing for Wales, to now in 2011 with two European Championships to our name, and playing and maybe not winning but holding our own against the three best Rugby League countries in the world has been an unbelievable experience.
“As I said it has been an honour to pull on the welsh jersey and I just hope that throughout the eight tests that I played I did it justice. I also want to say thank you to all of my Welsh team-mates. We are a close bunch and we have had some great times.”
Tickets for this Sunday’s Wales v Australia Gillette Four Nations match (kick-off 5.45pm) are available to buy in person from the ticket office at the Glyndŵr University Racecourse Stadium situated in the Yale Stand. Group ticket offers are available (terms and conditions apply).
The Centenary club will not be open pre-match but fans will be able to access the University Guild from 2.30pm situated just behind the Yale Stand, in the university grounds. Tickets can also be purchased over the phone on 01978 261 337 and can be collected on the day.
Admission to the under 18 international at Queensway Stadium between Wales and England Community Lions costs just £3 for adults and £1 concessions with gates opening at 11.30am.