HARLEQUINS veteran Jason Leonard, the world's most capped player with 114 caps, is quitting international rugby at the end of the Six Nations Championship - as I predicted last week.

The 35-year-old prop was dropped by England coach Clive Woodward for England's 19-13 defeat by Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday, and has decided not to make himself available for England's summer tour to New Zealand and Australia Leonard's 14-year international career featured appearances in four World Cups (including a winner's medal in 2003 and a runners-up medal in 1991), and inclusion in four Grand Slam-winning England sides (1991, 1992, 1995 and 2003). He also won five Test caps for the Lions, touring New Zealand (1993), South Africa (1997) and Australia (2001) and played in four World Cups.

Leonard, who played his first full international against Argentina in 1990 the same year he joined Quins, said: "Being left out of the squad for the Ireland game was not a factor in my decision. Retiring from Test rugby has been on my mind for a while because I was away from my family so long during the World Cup. You have to put a stop to your career at some point and that time has arrived. But I am available for the next two England games and am still playing for Harlequins."

However, the battle-scared Leonard, who needed neck surgery in 1992 to save his career by having a ruptured disc repaired with a piece of bone from his hip, may play only one more season for Quins.

Woodward, a former Harlequins player, led the tributes to Leonard. He said: "Jason has been an outstanding ambassador for the game on and off the pitch. All of his caps for England have been earned on merit and his contribution towards four Grand Slams and a RWC win with the national team has been massive over the last 14 years.

"Jason will be sorely missed, but there are two games left in the RBS Six Nations for England, and he remains in contention for each of them.

"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. He has a lot to offer and his experience would be invaluable."

Retirement from the international game means Leonard can now spend more time with partner Sandra and their three children Harry, Jack and Francesca Belle, who was born during the 2003 World Cup.

Quins club-mate Will Greenwood led Woodward's side out on Saturday to mark his 50th cap but the vice captain and his skipper Lawrence Dallaglio, a Ham resident, could not prevent England tasting their first defeat at Twickenham since 1999 following a winning run there of 22 games.

Greenwood said: "It was tough after playing in 22 straight wins for England at Twickenham. My dad Richard was England captain when they lost to Ireland in 1969 and now I've led out the team out to defeat against the Irish.

"Perhaps a third generation of Greenwoods will lead England to victory over Ireland.

"My wife Caro brought our five-week-old son Archie to Twickenham to presumably sleep through the match."

Greenwood and Leonard are in a 28-man squad to train towards England's match against Wales at Twickenham on saturday March 20 (4pm).

England's ladies extended their quest for the grand slam with a 51-10 win over Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday. One of five Richmond players in the squad, Emily Cooke, who scored a hat-trick against Spain in the opening Six Nations match, was among the try scorers.

While Pat Sanderson try couldn't prevent England A' losing 26-22 to France in Perpignan, his Harlequin club-mates Chris Bell and Andy Reay both ran in tries as England Under 21s beat Ireland U21s 27-19. Quins' Mark Lambert helped England U19s demolish Ireland 54-13.