England's World Cup-winning hooker Steve Thompson has announced that he has retired from all rugby due to a potentially life-threatening neck injury. Thompson said he had been left with no choice after receiving expert medical opinion.

"I went to see a specialist ... and he showed me the results of a scan," Thompson said. "My disc was squashing my spine and he told me I was very lucky to still be walking. If I had taken one more knock, I would have ended up paralysed, or even dead.

"I felt as if I'd emerged from a serious car accident alive, rather than thinking that something I dearly loved had been taken away from me."

The 28-year-old took a heavy blow during his last club game for Northampton, a 17-8 European Cup defeat to Biarritz on January 21.

"I got tackled, was swung around, and landed head first into the ground," said Thompson. "I insisted on playing on a for a couple of minutes, thinking I?d regain movement in my arm, but after I collected the ball from a Biarritz penalty kick that hit the post, I booted it down the field and realised I had to go off. That was the last action I'd ever see on a rugby field."

A second medical opinion from specialist Ricky Nelson confirmed the original prognosis and Thompson had no hestitation in announcing his retirement.

"I'll miss the game. I'll miss the journeys away with the lads. And I'll miss the adrenalin, the fear, the togetherness and the achievement," he added.

Thompson won the Six Nations Grand Slam with England in 2003, the same year they won the World Cup in England, and also lifted the 2000 European Cup with Northampton. He also played on the 2005 Lions tour to New Zealand. He made 170 appearances for Saints and won 47 caps for England.