Former Lions tourist Ben Cohen is considering retiring from the sport.
The 2001 Lion and 2003 World Cup winner has been told he won’t be offered a contract extension by current club Sale Sharks.
And if Cohen can’t find another club in the Aviva Premiership for next season, the 32-year-old has admitted he may call time on an illustrious career.
"Sale don't want me anymore because they're trying to spend more money in the pack," said Cohen, who joined the Sharks from French side Brive in 2009.
"I've got another couple of years left in me so I'll try to get a club in the Premiership. If not, I'll retire. So we'll just have to see what happens."
Cohen’s contract with the Edgeley Park outfit runs out at the end of the current campaign and the former Northampton star is clearly disappointed not to have been handed a new deal.
The move comes as new Sale boss Steve Diamond assesses his options having replaced Mike Brewer earlier this year.
Diamond has already made plenty of signings up front in the form of Munster prop Tony Buckley, Leeds youngster Kearnan Myall and Wasps hooker Joe Ward, and Cohen believes the emphasis on strengthening the pack has ultimately led to his departure.
"Sale don't want me anymore because they're trying to spend more money in the pack," added Cohen.
"I've played more than 50 games in one-and-a-half seasons at Sale and I play week in, week out.
"I'm a bit gutted that I'm given the push but that's life. You just have to take it on the chin."
