Sale Sharks' World Cup winning winger Ben Cohen has warned he will retire at the end of the season if he fails to find a new Premiership club.
32 year old Cohen joined the Edgeley Park outfit in 2009 on a two year contract but has been told he is surplus to requirements at the club.
The news came as a shock to Cohen who has made 45 appearances and scored 10 tries to date in his 18 month tenure at Sale.
It is believed new sporting director Steve Diamond wants to focus the available resources on strengthening the pack, despite already signing Leeds second row Kearnan Myall, prop Tony Buckley and hooker Joe Ward.
After making his debut for hometown club Northampton Saints in 1996, Cohen has enjoyed a prosperous career, with the highlight of which being a major part of the England team that were successful down under in 2003.
He went on to make 57 appearances for his country between 2000 and 2006, in doing so becoming England's second highest ever try scorer with 31 scores.
Cohen then secured a lucrative deal to French club Brive in 2007 although his time across the channel was blighted by injuries as he only made 16 appearances in 2 years, scoring 5 tries in the process.
Cohen follows England centre Matthew Tait out of the swinging Edgeley Park doors after he was released from his contract in February when he agreed a contract with Leicster Tigers.
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