Chris Paterson has announced his retirement from international rugby following a distinguished 12-year career with Scotland.
The 33-year-old won 109 caps, scoring 809 points - both records - and is the only Scot to have appeared in four Rugby World Cup tournaments.
Paterson has been hampered by a groin injury of late, impacting on his world renowned place-kicking, and now Scotland will enter an RBS 6 Nations Championship next spring without the Edinburgh full-back for the first time.
Paterson said on www.scotlandrugbyteam.org: "I've always said I wanted to bow out at the highest level of the game, while I still had the ability to go on.
"Since coming back (from the World Cup) I've had a while to think about it and I believe now is the right time to make my decision, especially when I've still been playing well at that level.
"My biggest fear would be devaluing what I have achieved and devaluing the jersey. You have to stop at some point and this is the right time for me."
Paterson, who will be 34 in March, will continue to play for Edinburgh until the end of the season, while there is the option of a one-year extension.
Scotland head coach Andy Robinson led the tributes.
Robinson said: "What a fantastic career Chris has had for Scotland. He should be celebrated as one of Scotland's greatest ever internationalists.
"I respect his decision and thank him for all he has done. Having coached against him, he was a player I always earmarked as a real threat.
"Coaching him has been a delight, primarily because of his many attributes, not least that constant desire to get better."
Paterson is one of Scotland's most celebrated internationals after a long and distinguished career.
He appeared at fly-half, wing and full-back for Scotland during an international career which began with a debut during the 1999 World Cup against Spain, before he became a regular in the inaugural Six Nations tournament in 2000.
He began his career with Gala, before two spells with Edinburgh, either side of a short stint at Gloucester.
Paterson surpassed Gavin Hastings as Scotland's leading points scorer and Scott Murray's cap record on the 2008 tour to Argentina.
He won his 100th cap against Wales in Cardiff in 2010 but suffered a lacerated kidney in the match.
Paterson, who captained Scotland on 12 occasions between 2004 and 2007, demonstrated his resilience, returning in the November 2010 win over South Africa and forcing his way into the starting line-up during the 2011 Six Nations.
He was first choice full-back during the disappointing World Cup campaign in New Zealand, but has now opted to give way to the next generation of talent.
Paterson's kicking accuracy was world-renowned. He landed 36 successive shots at goal between August 2007 and June 2008 and his unerring record with the boot was celebrated by French sports daily L'Equipe during the 2007 World Cup.
One record which proved elusive for Paterson was the try-scoring record jointly held by Tony Stanger and Ian Smith and which stands at 24.
His 809 points includes 22 tries, 170 penalties, 90 conversions and three drop goals.
Glasgow Warriors duo Rory Lamont and 19-year-old Stuart Hogg and Hugo Southwell of Wasps will be expected to compete for Scotland's full-back berth in the Six Nations, which begins against England at Murrayfield on February 4.
Paterson, though, will follow Nathan Hines into international retirement.
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