Saracens hooker George Chuter has announced that he is to quit professional rugby union and start a new life in Australia.

The 23-year-old England A international has been first-choice hooker for Saracens for the last three seasons, but became disillusioned with the sport last season.

Chuter capped an impressive first season as a Saracens regular with his first England call-up in 1998 when he joined the summer tour to Australia, but he failed to break into the first team.

After previously tasting international rugby at under-18 level, Chuter has been an England A stalwart for the past two seasons and his departure will leave a huge hole.

But he revealed: "Towards the end of the season I discovered that I was just not enjoying the game as much as I had been.

"My contract was up for renewal and the easy thing would have been just to sign it and carry on, but I didn't want to let myself, the team or the supporters down by playing next season when my heart wasn't in it."

Chuter will jet off to Australia at the end of the summer where he plans to live and work in Sydney, and will only play rugby on a part-time basis.

"It wasn't an easy decision to make because I love the club and have a lot of friends here who I will be sad to leave, but the time is right for me to step out for a while and see what happens," he added.

Club coach Francois Pienaar was dismayed at Chuter's departure.

The South African veteran said: "I was very sad when George told me of his intention to leave us and I have tried in vain since then to change his mind.

But Pienaar left the door open for Chuter to return to the Vicarage Road club if he changes his mind.

"He is still very young at 23 and will be welcome back at the club if he decides to resurrect his career at a later date," he said.