Wallabies veteran Matt Giteau has denied a report suggesting he will retire from rugby. Giteau, 34, was named in a report by French newspaper Midi Olympique saying he would hang up the boots by the end of 2016.
The 103-Test Wallabies stalwart has not played a game of rugby since he injured his ankle in Australia's 42-8 loss to the All Blacks in Sydney in August.
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Cheika: Trust in Phipps
With Will Genia out of the Wallabies side, coach Michael Cheika has faith in Nick Phipps finding form with more opportunity.
Despite his latest setback, Giteau has taken to social media to refute suggestions he will not be continuing next year.
A Twitter user asked Giteau if the report had any merit to it. He replied: "pas vrai" which is French for "not true".
The ARU also confirmed it has not heard from Giteau as to whether he had planned to retire this year.
Giteau is one of world rugby's highest-paid players, with his Toulon contract reportedly in the ballpark of $1.9 million per season. However he has had his fair share of struggles with his adopted club.
Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal has been difficult for the ARU and Wallabies coach Michael Cheika to deal with in recent months given he wants to get as much game time out of his star player.
Toulon were at pains to release Giteau for the Rugby Championship this year and their frustration would have been exacerbated when Australia's No.12 limped from the field with a syndesmosis injury in the first Bledisloe match.
While Giteau has made no official decision on his Test career, it would appear given Cheika's desire to have Quade Cooper and Bernard Foley as Australia's long-term playmakers at No.10 and No.12, there is every chance Giteau might not play another Test for the Wallabies.
Meanwhile, Giteau's Toulon teammate Drew Mitchell was also named in the report which suggested his contract would not be extended and that a return to Super Rugby could be on the cards.
Mitchell's contract with Toulon expires at the end of the year and there is also understood to be a tug-of-war between he and the French club given he did not feature as heavily in the Rugby Championship as he would have liked.
Mitchell, like Giteau, copped a hit to the back pocket at last year's World Cup, forgoing a six-figure amount to be released from club duties in order to line up with the Wallabies as they progressed to the final against the All Blacks.
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