England's Neil Back will retire from international rugby after the current RBS 6 Nations Championship is over. The 35-year-old back-row played in six of England's seven matches in the World Cup in Australia, including the final.
He said: "I no longer feel I can commit to the summer tour so I will be retiring from international rugby post-Six Nations. I phoned Clive (Woodward) on Friday to tell him that the thought of spending another summer away from my family, allied to the situation at Leicester, had persuaded me that I did not want to tour.
"I knew when I made the phone call that I probably had played my last game for England because I am well aware that Clive has said he will only consider players for the Six Nations who are committed to the tour of New Zealand and Australia." |