Fly-half Charlie Hodgson has announced his retirement from international rugby with England.

The Saracens man made 38 appearances for his country over an 11-year period but has recently fallen down the pecking order under new coach Stuart Lancaster.

Owen Farrell and Toby Flood were preferred as England's number 10s during the tour to South Africa this month, leading Hodgson to hang up his international boots and focus on club matters.

Hodgson said: "I have been very proud to represent England over the last 11 years. Wearing the shirt has always been the highest honour for me, not least in the last six months, and no-one would want to give that up.

"But Stuart and I came to the same conclusion that the time is right to let a new group of fly-halves take England forward.

"Saracens have been very good to me and been key to me getting back on the international scene and I can now fully focus on them, not to mention a young family."

Hodgson will continue to play for Saracens in the Aviva Premiership, a league in which he is the all-time leading points scorer.