Johnson and Back to retire after RWC

England stars Martin Johnson and Neil Back have both hinted at possible retirement from international rugby after next year's World Cup in Australia.

The Leicester forwards have won more than 100 caps between them, while England captain Johnson led the British Lions in South Africa five years ago and to Australia last summer.

"The World Cup seems to me to be the appropriate time to go from the Test scene and concentrate on my club career," Johnson said.

"I made a commitment to play international rugby through to the World Cup. For any player getting to my sort of age - I will be nearly 34 by then - the build-up will be massive, hugely demanding.

"I cannot look beyond getting my place back in the England squad, and to achieve that, I must play to my best for Leicester."

Back, 33, added: "If I am fortunate enough to make it through to the World Cup, I will pass the great Peter Winterbottom's total of 58 caps, a record for an England openside flanker.

"I would then let someone else have the honour of wearing England's number seven jersey. However, that someone else may have taken the jersey from me before then. That is up to me to keep my place."