"England exodus continues" - Anthony Watson's next club as Leicester exit confirmed

This comes despite the fact that the British & Irish Lions star signed a one-year deal with Leicester Tigers last summer and took a pay cut after leaving Bath. If he accepts the offer from Castres, he may end his international career.

According to The Rugby Paper, the Top 14 side has offered Watson a two-year deal, although they have struggled this season and currently sit in 11th place in the table.

It is expected that more players will also make the move to France.

Athleticism and pace are the shining assets of Watson’s game. He represented England U16 and U18 sides and was vice-captain at his school, St George’s College in Weybridge.

A newcomer to England’s squad for the 2014 Six Nations Championship, his debut came from the bench against New Zealand at Twickenham in November that year and he also started on the right wing against South Africa, Samoa and Australia that month.

He achieved his “ultimate ambition” in 2017, when making his debut and scoring a try for The British & Irish Lions in the opening tour match against New Zealand Provincial Barbarians at Whangarei. His first Lions Test was against the All Blacks at Auckland three weeks later and he also started the other two matches at Wellington and Eden Park.

Anthony recovered from long-term injury to make England's 2019 Rugby World Cup squad and was a key part of the run to the final.

Below, we look at three established stars who are unlikely to win another cap.

Age: 32

Position: Loosehead-prop

Caps: 83

Marler is unlikely to return to the England team during the 2023 Six Nations after he breached one of Steve Borthwick’s main rules.

The new England boss has a “no sh**talking policy” with England, whereby he expects players to behave appropriately on the pitch.

As a result, Marler was left out of the Six Nations squad despite his fine form with Harlequins this season.

Marler’s latest ban was for six weeks – four of them suspended – after accepting a charge regarding comments made to Bristol flanker Jake Heenan about his mother.

At this stage, an international return looks very unlikely.

DID YOU KNOW? Marler started his career at Haywards Heath RFC in Sussex where he played in the same side as fellow England international Billy Twelvetrees

Age: 30

Position: Number 8

Caps: 64

Borthwick excluded Powerhouse No8 Vunipola from the Six Nations squad, opting for Alex Dombrandt from Harlequins and Sam Simmons from Exeter as specialists.

Vunipola made a return to the England squad last summer under Eddie Jones and played in the autumn Test series.

However, in Borthwick's first selection, he made significant changes, resulting in Vunipola being among several experienced players left out.

With Zach Mercer set to return to England this summer, yet another recall for Billy is starting to look very unlikely.

Appearing on The Rugby Pod, Andy Goode said: “This is the thing, pre-match doing the analysis, seven of that eight pack that monstered by France started every Six Nations game.

"Dombrandt, non-existent in the game, has been poor in the Six Nations. I look at the squad thinking, ‘You want some ballast, bring Billy back’.

"Billy ain’t there and I’m hearing the reasons around Billy not being involved in the Steve Borthwick squad is because they had a fallout. Had a fallout and Steve won’t pick him for that reason.

“From what I hear and understand it’s personal. Steve won’t pick Billy Vunipola because of what happened previously between them.”

DID YOU KNOW? He is the nephew of two other former international players, Manu and 'Elisi Vunipola, who both represented Tonga in the 1990s

Age: 36

Position: Scrum-half

Caps: 87

Returning to the England squad in the summer for the tour of Australia, Borthwick reported told Care that he had 'no chance' of a recall as he looks to take the team in a different direction.

Age: 29

Position: Winger

Caps: 51

With a move to France pending, the Exeter Chiefs flier went from vice-captain in the Autumn to being completely out of the squad for the Six Nations, reportedly without a phone call.

Age: 32

Position: Winger

Caps: 72

The Gloucester speedster, who is England's second top try-scorer of all-time with 35, was another veteran who was unceremoniously axed by Borthwick. h

With injury problems becoming more and more frequent, May will need a significant upturn in form to have any chance of a recall.

Ollie Hassell-Collins is primed to start for England this weekend with the likes of Max Malins, Adam Radwan, Cadan Murley and Henry Arundell all vying for a place in the England team.

DID YOU KNOW? studied at Hartpury College, where he was a member of Hartpury College R.F.C., coached by Allan Lewis in a team that included future Wales and Lions wing Alex Cuthbert