The 26-year-old has retired after missing the bulk of the past two seasons. He was able to make six appearances this season, but medical advice prompted his decision to turn to coaching.

His forwards expertise will be put to use by director of rugby Steve Diamond and head coach Mike Ford, with Sanderson accepting he would be risking his long-term health by playing on.

The problem is I have seven prolapsed discs in my back. Four of them have been operated on, but its just too many for me to carry on playing, he said.

I dont mind being sore after matches and getting injuries - thats something you expect as a professional rugby player. But its when it starts to affect everything you do that you start to look at things.

There is no short-term solution and the longer I play the more chance there is of causing permanent damage that will affect me in later life and even now I realise that I will still have to have more surgery at some point.

Sanderson won five England caps, scoring a try on his debut against Romania in 2001.

The coaching opportunity comes early in his rugby career, but Sanderson is determined to grasp it and repay Saracens for handing him the new position.

Im not going to sit around and feel sorry for myself and Im really looking forward to the new role. Ill be working on contact skills, the tackle and ruck area and just trying to pass on what Ive learned to the rest of the squad, he said.

The decision to retire has been taken out of my hands and Im delighted to have the opportunity to continue to work at Saracens and develop my coaching skills.

Diamond said: Its always sad when a player is struck down with a chronic injury in the prime of his career.

England head coach Andy Robinson added: On behalf of the England squad I was very sorry to hear that Alex has decided to retire from playing professional rugby.

But for injury I'm sure he would have received more caps for England and I'd like to wish him every success in his coaching role at Saracens.