England stars Martin Johnson and Neil Back have both indicated at possible retirement from international rugby after next year's World Cup in Australia.

The Leicester forwards have won more than 100 caps between them, while England captain Johnson led the British Lions in South Africa five years ago and to Australia last summer.

"The World Cup seems to me to be the appropriate time to go from the Test scene and concentrate on my club career," Johnson said. "I made a commitment to play international rugby through to the World Cup.

"For any player getting to my sort of age - I will be nearly 34 by then - the build-up will be massive, hugely demanding.

"This season and next season will almost blend together because England have 14 games before the World Cup starts in October, 2003," Johnson told The Sun.

"I cannot look beyond getting my place back in the England squad, and to achieve that, I must play to my best for Leicester."

Johnson and Back were both rested for England's summer tour of Argentina, a trip when several young guns staked their claims to feature during the November Test appointments with Tri-Nations heavyweights New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.

Back, 33, added: "If I am fortunate enough to make it through to the World Cup, I will pass the great Peter Winterbottom's total of 58 caps, a record for an England openside flanker.

"I would then let someone else have the honour of wearing England's No7 jersey. However, that someone else may have taken the jersey from me before then. That is up to me to keep my place."