BEN GARCIA has no regrets after wearing a Catalans shirt for the last time.
The Dragons captain brought the curtain down on his club career in Friday’s defeat at Wigan.
It was the 33-year-old forward’s 290th game for Catalans across 14 seasons, a spell broken only by a short stint with Penrith Panthers in the New South Wales Cup.
Garcia sits behind only Rémi Casty and Julian Bousquet in the list of leading club appearance-makers.
It’s not a farewell to the Dragons because Garcia, who has also represented France 17 times, will take on the new role of sporting director, vacant since Neil McIlroy left a year ago.
That gives him the opportunity to oversee more achievements for the Perpignan club, having been a key figure in their first Challenge Cup win in 2018, the League Leaders’ Shield success of 2021 and reaching two Super League Grand Finals.
“I was privileged to experience those moments, so that’s why I regret absolutely nothing,” said Garcia.
“I knew it would end one day and I was lucky to have lived my passion for 14 years.
“I want to be positive, because I was very lucky to have been able to achieve things I maybe didn’t expect.
“I’m very proud to have been captain, to have won a trophy and to have played in two Grand Finals.
“It’s true that my goal was to win Super League and I didn’t do it, but I’m very proud to have experienced many things with my club.
“When you are young, the veterans tell you it will go by very fast. When the time comes (to finish), you realise it’s true.”