THE AXING of Harlequins star Jason Leonard from England's Six Nations team for the first time in 14 years could signal the end of his international rugby career is in sight, and speculation is rife that his club career may not last much longer.

The 35-year-old prop is not even on the substitutes bench at his beloved Twickenham this Saturday when England take on Ireland with a team led by Ham resident Lawrence Dallaglio and also containing Quins' Will Greenwood as vice captain. Greenwood is winning his 50th cap.

Coach Clive Woodard has given Leonard's place on the bench to Matt Stevens, an uncapped Anglo-South African who was seven when the world's most capped player was playing in the first of his 114 Tests for England in Buenos Aires in 1990.

Woodward, himself a former Quins player, said: "It's a tough call. I pick the team on merit and I felt it was right Jason was involved in the first two games. But for this match we've brought in young Matt Stevens for his first full international if he gets on. I just want to see Matt on the bench, and playing at home will be a lot easier for him.

"I've spoken to Jason at length about this. He's obviously disappointed, but accepts fully the ups and downs of being selected." Questioned further, Woodward insisted: "Jason is far from being on the way out. Guys like him are always at their best when they experience a setback."

But even if Woodward recalls Leonard, it seems odds on that the veteran forward's England career will end this season. And he may be tempted to soon call it a day at club level as well.

Quins official Nick Melton says: "Jason's contract runs out in the summer and it will be up to him whether he wants to keep going. Obviously, he can't go on for ever."

Meanwhile, six Harlequins players have been included in England Under 21s' squad for today's Under 21 Six Nations fixture against Ireland at Gloucester (7.30pm).

Chris Bell, Andy Reay, Ungo Monyne and Adrian Jarvis are in the team, while Tom Parker is among the replacements. Henry Barratt is omitted after making the original 27-man training squad.

* Harlequins are again without a game this weekend, and their next fixture is not until Friday March 19 when they away to Leicester Tigers (7.45pm) in the Zurich Premiership.