Josh Lewsey turned his back on England today and immediately set his sights on proving Martin Johnson wrong by winning a place on the British Lions tour to South Africa next summer.

His departure means London Wasps team-mate Phil Vickery is the only 2003 World Cup winner still in the England team.

The 32-year old (below) has called time on a Test career that started 10 years ago. His decade wearing the Red Rose brought him glory in Sydney in 2003 and then despair as South Africa beat England in the final last year - a match he missed because of injury.

But new England coach Martin Johnson, Lewsey's 2003 Cup captain, appears to only consider him as a wing or full-back - even though it is as an outside-centre that he now excels at Wasps.

So with Delon Armitage making a big impression at No15 and Paul Sackey and Ugo Monye grabbing the wing places, Lewsey has been forced to accept that his time with England is at an end.

Lewsey said: "Having played in 2005, it is still a huge goal of mine to be part of a winning British Lions tour. I believe performing well in a successful club team week in and week out gives me the best chance of being selected for next year's Lions Tour.

"It is with a huge fondness for the game that I love, and after consultation with Martin Johnson, I have decided to retire from representing my country.

"I spoke with Martin earlier this week and as he didn't consider me to be an integral part of his immediate team moving forward, I have decided that I would be better served committing myself entirely to my club, London Wasps.

"After 55 caps, I know that playing, but more importantly winning, for your country is the most special feeling one can have."

Johnson was full of praise for Lewsey, saying: "I'd like to wish him every success with his continuing career with Wasps."

Lewsey, who scored 22 tries for England, needed two attempts to make it in Test rugby, having halted his sporting career to graduate from the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst in 2001 and then served with the Royal Artillery. He won his first cap in 1998 and helped clinch a 2003 Grand Slam before enjoying World Cup glory in Sydney later that year as the first-choice No15.