Warne happy to hang boots up

PAUL Warne says he has listened to his body by hanging up his boots for good in order to concentrate fully on coaching.

After nearly 400 appearances, his last as as a raptuously welcomed sub in Saturday's game against Northampton, he has decided to call it quits.

Warne's experience—he turned 39 on Tuesday—will now be used to help the club's junior and senior players and although that is no substitute for the thrill of playing, he doesn't want to overstay his welcome.

He said: "There are times I play when I think, 'I can still do this,' and there are others when I train with the lads three or four days in the week and my knees and Achilles don't like it. My heart does but my body doesn't and that's the truth.

"I'm not one those players who will hang in for the sake of hanging in, I don't want to be like that.

"I've enjoyed the crack. I wish I'd played more games this year but I'm glad it's over and I can look forward to the new thing."

Warne is now set to enter a tenth season with the club, a stay spread over two spells which started back in the 1998/99 season.