Trailblazer Ruan Sims will hang up her boots at the end of the 2019 NRLW season.
Sims will retire at the completion of the Sydney Roosters’ 2019 campaign with the 37-year-old saying she had been contemplating bringing down the curtain on her illustrious career for some time.
“The women’s game has come along in strides since I first started playing, and despite having to make some hard choices in my life to get me where I am, I am proud that I was part of that journey,” Sims said.
“Over the years, I have been privileged and blessed to represent not only at club level, but also my state and country, and I will always be extremely proud to say that I made my debut with the Sydney Roosters in the founding year of the NRLW competition.”
The former NSW and Jillaroos captain became one of the most visible stars of the women’s game and was instrumental in its exponential growth over the last few years.
After making her Australian debut at the 2013 World Cup, the prop forward played 12 Tests for the Jillaroos.
She co-captained Australia to its 2017 World Cup win before losing her place in the side last year.
She has also become a prominent media figure and has worked as part of the Channel Nine commentary team.
Sims, the sister of St George Illawarra’s Tariq and Korbin and former Dragons, Brisbane and North Queensland forward Ashton, was a member of the Sydney Roosters’ inaugural NRLW campaign last year.
The Roosters are winless and in last spot headed into the final round of the NRLW regular season but are not out of contention for a berth in the grand final.
If they beat St George Illawarra by 18 points or more at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday, and if Brisbane beat the Warriors, then they will advance to their second successive final.