Jason Robinson on Sunday reflected on an "amazing" seven years in rugby union after he bowed out of the sport in the World Cup final.
Sadly for Robinson his exit was anything but a fairytale after he suffered a dislocated shoulder early in the second half of England's 15-6 defeat to South Africa.
But he achieved more in the game than most, and more than he ever expected after taking the plunge in 2000 to switch codes and sign for Sale Sharks from Wigan.
"My initial goal was to get in the England team and hopefully do well. I hoped to play in the World Cup, but I never imagined playing in two World Cup finals," he said.
"I was lucky to win one of them. It's been an amazing seven years, an amazing 16 years. I achieved far more than I imagined I would.
"It was a sad way to finish. I wanted to play the 80 minutes and try to make a difference but it wasn't to be.
"I went in to secure the ball and a few of their guys came over and smashed me in contact.
"I knew my shoulder had gone. I knew it was over and the end of my game. I knew it was my last.
"It's disappointing, but such is life. Someone joked that it is a career-ending injury!
"Sale have granted me a benefit year and that starts in November. Then we will see what happens, but I'm certainly not playing rugby."
Robinson was known as Billy Whizz during his rugby league days having turned professional with Wigan on his 17th birthday.
He would go on to score 184 tries for the Warriors, winning five league titles, three Challenge Cups and a World Club Challenge title.
In 2000 he switched codes and made a similarly impressive impact, starting a Test for the British and Irish Lions before he had broken into the England team.
Robinson was picked for the 2001 tour of Australia and scored an electric try within five minutes of the first Test against the Wallabies.
That established him as a star of the world game and he would go on to play 51 Tests for England, scoring 30 tries including one in the 2003 World Cup final.
Robinson, who won a Guinness Premiership title with Sale in 2006, is due to play his final recognised match for the Barbarians against South Africa on December 1.
But that is now in doubt as he recovers from the shoulder injury.
When Robinson departed the field last night he was replaced at full-back by Mathew Tait, while Dan Hipkiss moved into the centre and Toby Flood then came on for the injured Mike Catt.
As a result, England finished the final with a backline of the future and Robinson is excited by what lies ahead.
Eddie Jones, South Africa's technical advisor, believes Tait's international future is at full-back.
Robinson said: "He has all the attributes to be a good full-back. I have played with him and been skinned by him on a few occasions.
"I think they all did extremely well. They have come of age in the last seven weeks and the future looks good."
Robinson is the only member of the squad to have confirmed his retirement but he may not be the only to have played his last game for England.
Captain Phil Vickery would not make any snap decisions but did indicate he will consider his future.
"I love what I do, unfortunately," said Vickery.
"It is a privilege to do what we do. Playing for England has meant everything to me and to have the opportunity to wear my country's jersey is an amazing feeling.
"I have to focus on getting it right and being ready for Wasps because in all honesty, without the support of that club, I may not have got back to play for England (after undergoing a third back operation)."
Hooker Mark Regan, who has retired once from Test rugby in 2004, vowed he would always be available for England but other senior players like Lawrence Dallaglio and Catt could have played their last international.
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