The out-half who made his debut for Ulster in 1992 has been a main-stay of the Ulster side for the past eight seasons, ever since returning to Belfast from London Irish at the beginning of the 1998-99 European Cup winning year, and he has amassed 72 Irish caps over 11 seasons in international rugby, making first appearance for Ireland against France back in 1996.

Speaking tonight to BBC Newsline, Humphreys, who is married to Jane and has three small children, said that his decision to retire from the international scene had been a family one, "..it's a family decision, they've not pressured me but because I have been away from home so much I've missed the first five or six years of my children growing up."

And a frustrating Six Nations with Ireland where he didn't see any gametime at all has no doubt contributed,  "I haven't played so much with Ireland this year and it's now time to concentrate on Ulster a bit more." "It would have been very easy to retire completely but looking at the quality of young players coming through I think there are very exciting times ahead for Ulster and I want to be a part of that."