The former England star Josh Lewsey has announced he will quit rugby union at the end of the season and begin focusing on his next challenge - scaling Mount Everest.

Lewsey, a member of the England team that won the World Cup in 2003 and whose try in the semi-final against France effectively got them to the 2007 final, which he missed through injury, also said he would start work as a management consultant after the arduous climb.

"I am 32 and I suppose I could have gone on for a few more years," Lewsey told the Sunday Times .

"But Vanessa (his wife) is finishing her doctorate, you have to think about real life and responsibility, the possibility of a family."

Lewsey won 55 caps in all, after making his England debut on the infamous 1998 'Tour From Hell' in the southern hemisphere, and also appeared in three Tests for the British and Irish Lions during their losing tour of New Zealand three years ago.

However, he called time on his England career in December after failing to find a place in the team for November's home internationals at Twickenham.

Nevertheless, he said he still wanted to take part in the Lions' upcoming tour of South Africa, telling the Sunday Times: "I have never taken part in a winning Lions Test series. I would dearly love to go."

The 32-year-old also hinted he may one day return to the game as a coach, saying: "One day, I may be back. I can count the number of great coaches I worked with on the fingers of one hand."

He told the newspaper he would begin training for scaling Everest at the end of the summer with Keith Reesby, an army major who will accompany him up the mountain.

"Rugby has been my home, I have played it since I was four but it is time for the next step and the next challenge," he said.

"In life, that is where the excitement comes from. Everest is seen as the ultimate challenge. It has been a goal of mine since I was young."

Lewsey, a fullback cum wing and occasional centre, has spent the bulk of his club career with Wasps.

He will see out the season with the reigning English champions, although they are now out of contention for one of this term's play-off spots, having twice helped them win the European Cup.

Lewsey and Reesby have permits to climb Everest in around July 2010.

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