Retiring prop Matt Stevens gave quitting England ‘lot of thought’

Saracens boss Mark McCall insists Matt Stevens’ decision to retire from international rugby was not made on the spur of the moment.
The 29-year-old prop announced he was stepping away from the Test stage this week to focus on Sarries and his family.
During an eight-year international career he won 44 caps, representing England at two World Cups and made his last Test appearance in the Red Rose jersey in the Six Nations win over Ireland.
He arrived at Saracens at the beginning of last season having returned from a two-year ban for cocaine use.
McCall, who is looking to lead Saracens back to the Premiership title they lost to Harlequins last season, insists there was no pressure put on Stevens from the club to give up playing for England.
“Matt retiring from international rugby is not something we’ve really pushed,” said McCall
“He has made his own mind up on that and once he’s made his mind up it means he’s going to concentrate on Saracens and that can only be a positive for us.
“We talked about about his reasons for doing it and obviously we respect his decision.
“Matt said that he thought long and hard about it so this wasn’t just a kneejerk thing.
“It’s may be a bit of a surprise because he is still quite young but this is his decision alone.”
Stevens feels he cannot commit himself through to the next World Cup in England in 2015 and said in an RFU statement: “This is one of the most difficult decisions I have had to make.
“Playing for England has been the ultimate honour and I have been very privileged and proud to wear the white shirt and play with some great players.
“But I have a young family and, conscious that I would not be able to commit to the World Cup in three years, I have decided that the time is right to call it a day and to focus on my rugby at Saracens.”
Stevens was the most-capped forward in Stuart Lancaster‘s squad for the Six Nations, appearing off the bench in all five matches but missed the tour of South Africa with a shoulder injury.
Lancaster must decide on a replacement prop for the EPS from the Saxons contingent, Nathan Catt, Matt Mullan, David Wilson, Paul Doran-Jones and Henry Thomas.
MATT WRIGHT