Dallaglio retires from International Rugby.

Lawrence Dallaglio confirmed at a press conference this morning that he will retire from International Rugby, where he has earned 73 caps, with immediate effect.

This is another major blow to Sir Clive Woodward in advance of the Autumn internationals. England have already lost Martin Johnson, Neil Back, Jason Leonard and Kyran Bracken since the World Cup last year. And given his playing and leadership skills, this loss would be almost as great as Johnson’s was.

Dallaglio has said that he will stay on at Wasps for the remainder of his 2 year contract. He has been a Wasps man all through his career and last season led them to the Heineken European Cup and Zurich Premiership double, having won the Premiership and Parker Pen the previous year. It is entirely possible that he is about to follow in the footsteps of clubmate Rob Howley, who retired from playing for Wales to concentrate on extending his club career.

Dallaglio is also very much in the frame for captaincy of the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand next summer and hasn’t ruled out that he might be invloved.