Thompson retires

"That's it. I'm never playing rugby again," the 28-year-old forward, injured in Northampton's game against Biarritz in a Heineken Cup match in January, told the Mail on Sunday.

Thompson, who had surgery on the disc injury four weeks ago, said a specialist told him he was "very lucky" to be walking.

"If I had taken one more knock, I would have ended up paralysed or even dead," he added.

Thompson will therefore only be watching from the outside when England go to France this year to defend the World Cup he helped them lift in Australia in 2003.

England's preparations had already taken a blow with centre Mike Tindall, also a World Cup-winner, having broken his leg playing for Gloucester against Newcastle on Friday.

Tindall will be out for at least three months, missing the tour of South Africa in June, a key part of the build-up, but hoping to return for warm-ups with France and Wales in August.

In the World Cup starting on Sept. 7, England are in Pool A with South Africa, Samoa, Tonga and the U.S.