Former Scotland scrum-half Chris Cusiter announced his retirement from professional rugby on Wednesday with immediate effect.
Cusiter, 33, joined English Premiership side Sale after previous stints with Glasgow, Border Reivers and Perpignan, with whom he won the French Top 14 championship in 2009.
He won 70 caps for Scotland between 2004 and 2014 and toured New Zealand with the British and Irish Lions in 2005. “This is the right time to hang up my boots and move on to the next challenge,” said Cusiter in a statement released by Sale. “Playing for Scotland 70 times was more than I could have dreamed of growing up learning how to play rugby at Robert Gordon’s College in Aberdeen.
“The memories of playing for Scotland and touring New Zealand with the British and Irish Lions will be with me forever, and I am grateful for all the incredible experiences I have been afforded through rugby.”
Cusiter’s next venture will be the establishment of an alcohol retail business selling Scotch whisky in Los Angeles.
“I’ve been fascinated by the Scotch whisky industry for the past few years and firmly believe that it is Scotland’s finest and greatest export and something to be very proud of,” he said.

Botica to leave Harlequins for Montpellier
Fly-half Ben Botica will join French club Montpellier from their forthcoming European Challenge Cup final opponents Harlequins at the end of the season, the English Premiership side announced on Wednesday.
The New Zealand-born 26-year-old, who has scored over 500 points for Harlequins in 93 appearances, will replace Toulon-bound France international Francois Trinh-Duc.
Harlequins on Tuesday announced the signing of Scotland fly-half Ruaridh Jackson from Wasps. “It was a very hard decision for me to leave Harlequins,” Botica told the Quins website.
“The last four years, in terms of my development as a player, have been priceless. Being around such a great group, in playing ability and as people, is something you can’t buy.
 “It’s beginning to hit home how much I will miss this club and the people associated with it. I have been given a new and exciting challenge in France with Montpellier, but my immediate focus is to help Harlequins finish in the (Premiership) top six and win European silverware.”
Botica, who previously spent time in France with second-division side Perigueux, will go up against his new employers in the European Challenge Cup final in Lyon on May 13.
Quins also announced that scrum-half Tito Tebaldi is joining Italian club Treviso and lock Kieran Treadwell is heading to Ulster.