Six Nations: Leonard to Retire From International Rugby at End of Six Nations

This time last week England were unbeatable at Twickenham and Sir Clive Woodward was insisting there was still mileage in Jason Leonard's Test career. Suddenly England are no longer on a roll and yesterday they lost their rock, when Leonard announced his intention to retire from international rugby in 17 days' time.

In keeping with the Leonard legend it is more a case of last orders than a rapid dash for the exit, with the world's most-capped player still available for England's two remaining Six Nations games against Wales and France. Woodward confirmed Leonard "remains in contention" for both matches but, after 114 caps, the end is now officially nigh.

Over 14 years Leonard has given England such magnificent service that one final curtain call is the least he deserves after yesterday telling Woodward that he would not be around to tour New Zealand and Australia this summer.

"I have no doubt that this is the time to bow out of international rugby for the right reasons," said the 35-year-old Harlequins prop forward, increasingly keen to spend more time with his young family. "You have to put a stop to your career at some point and that time has now arrived. This is my decision, I have nothing to prove to anybody and I have been lucky enough to have achieved more than I could have ever dreamed of when I started in 1990."

The only England player to have won and lost a World Cup final, Leonard overtook France's Philippe Sella as the world's leading cap-winner last autumn but his omission from the 22 for last Saturday's Ireland game was the clearest possible signal that an era was drawing to a close.

As with the already retired Martin Johnson, Woodward is hoping to use Leonard's huge experience to smooth the way for future generations of English players.

"When Jason decides to retire from club rugby I would like him to consider a coaching role within the game and hopefully at the RFU," confirmed Woodward, praising Leonard's "massive contribution" to English rugby following "a long and positive chat" with him yesterday morning. "He has a lot to offer and his experience would be invaluable."

When supporters and players think of Leonard, nevertheless, many will recall less his redoubtable scrummaging, deceptive fitness or mind-boggling endurance than a man who appeared to traverse the gulf between amateur and professional rugby without letting go of his pint pot.

He has always tried to maintain the tradition of sharing a beer with his opposite number after Tests and, if even half the stories about his eating habits are untrue, no hungrier player ever represented England.

One example was on the 2001 Lions tour to Australia when the players dined at a steak and ribs restaurant in Sydney. Leonard, sensing his opportunity, immediately shot across the room towards the coach Andy Robinson, the only vegetarian. That is what you call experience.

But, while the RFU will appreciate the savings on the room service bills, the former carpenter from Barking will be missed in every other sense. This is a man who recovered from major neck surgery to pack down against the world's best for a further decade and who kept on going long after most of his contemporaries had called it a day.

Along the way he has captained England, contributed to four grand slams and did much to change the lazy perception of English rugby as a sport enjoyed only by the middle classes. No one loved playing for England more nor took it less for granted. He was so proud of his first white jersey in 1990 that famously he spent the next afternoon watching it complete its cycle in his mum's washing machine.

Spending only one night at home in a fortnight as England prepared for last month's away games in Italy and Scotland, though, made him realise that this summer's southern hemisphere tour would be "too much".

All he seeks now is one final hurrah. "I'm available for the next two games and I want to be selected," he said. "I have never been happy to make up the number by sitting on the replacements' bench and I hope I will be given the chance to start another international match."