ENGLAND front row Rochelle Clark brought down the curtain today on her international career but not before telling the Rugby Football Union: “We simply have to go professional.”

Clark’s international career spanned 15 years and four World Cups and the loose-head prop will continue playing for Wasps next season, but, after making 137 appearances for the Red Roses, which identifies her as the nation’s most capped rugby player, she has opted to end her time with England.

The 37-year-old made her international debut in 2003 and has seen the sport evolve to a point where the RFU introduced contracts to the 15-a-side game in 2016, only to controversially decide to not renew them following England’s defeat to New Zealand in the 2017 World Cup final.