Sarries star Hodgson announces international retirement (From Times Series)

Saracens star Hodgson retires from international rugby with England

12:42pm Thursday 28th June 2012 in npower League Two Table & Results By Simon Mail

Saracens fly-half Charlie Hodgson has announced his retirement from international rugby.

The 31-year-old, who joined the club from Sale Sharks last summer, has decided to concentrate on Sarries for the rest of his career.

Hodgson won 38 caps for his country but with the emergence of club-mate Owen Farrell was likely to find himself down the pecking order for England.

Hodgson said: "I have been very proud to represent England over the last 11 years. Wearing the shirt has always been the highest honour for me, not least in the last six months, and no-one would want to give that up.

"But Stuart [Lancaster] and I came to the same conclusion that the time is right to let a new group of fly-halves take England forward.

"Saracens have been very good to me and been key to me getting back on the international scene and I can now fully focus on them, not to mention a young family."