The 35-year-old Leicester flanker will follow fellow World Cup squad members Martin Johnson, Jason Leonard and Kyran Bracken into international retirement.

He won 66 caps and scored 16 tries during an England career that began 10 years ago, and was named last week in a 28-man red rose training squad for next
Saturdays RBS 6 Nations clash against Wales at Twickenham.

I no longer feel that I can commit to the summer tour (of New Zealand and Australia), so I will be retiring from international rugby post-6 Nations, said Back.

I phoned Clive (England coach Sir Clive Woodward) on Friday to tell him that the thought of spending another summer away from my family, allied to the situation at Leicester, had persuaded me that I did not want to tour.

I knew when I made the phone call that I probably had played my last game for England.

I am well aware that Clive has said he will only consider players for the 6 Nations who are committed to the tour of New Zealand and Australia, Back told the Daily Mirror.

Rugby Football Union president Robert Horner said Backs career had been dominated by success and achievement.

By maintaining a very strong work ethic, fitness regime and a huge amount of ability, he has deserved everything he has derived from the game, added Horner.

The medals and cups he has won to date serve to underline what a superb player he has been at international level, and will continue to be for his club, Leicester Tigers.

RFU chief executive Francis Baron added: Neils contribution to the game at all levels has been a massive one, and he leaves the England set-up with the best wishes of everyone involved - from the coaching staff, the management, his playing squad colleagues and everyone associated with the RFU.

Back, a Test Lion in Australia (2001) and South Africa (1997), made his England debut against Scotland in 1994.

Once labelled as being being too small for international rugby, he quickly removed that tag through a succession of all-action displays.

He played in three World Cups - 1995, 1999 and 2003 - and captained England to victories over the likes of Australia, Wales and Italy.

He became the first England forward in 117 years to score four tries in a Test when The Netherlands were destroyed during a qualifier for the 1999 World Cup, and also made history by dropping a goal against Italy in Rome four years ago - a feat that no other England forward had previously achieved.

And the revered England back-row combination he forged alongside Richard Hill and Lawrence Dallaglio remains one of the finest that rugby has ever seen.