JOSH Lewsey has called time on his England career, but his international ambitions have not yet been sated.

The World Cup winner aims to lead Wasps to more silverware this season in a bid to cement a place on next summer’s Lions Tour to South Africa.

He said: “The selections of other sides comes from how you’re playing week in and week out, so Wasps is first and foremost where my focus lies.

“I want to be part of this team. I’m ambitious to win more things here and one of the major reasons I’ve made this announcement is becauseI feel very excited about the club at the moment.

“There was an announcement last week in terms of the change of ownership, and now there is some real clarity in terms of the vision at the top end of the club. That filters down and you get the feeling that if we can build on the momentum and generate a winning mentality again, then get to the New Year in mid-table and still be in the Heineken Cup then all is to play for.”

It doesn’t hurt Lewsey’s Lions hopes that two of the selectors he needs to impress coach him at club level.

He said: “I’d love to be part of the Lions, but this isn’t a calculated decision.

“As much as anything else, my goal is to win things at the club and it’s very difficult when you’re away from Sunday through to Tuesday night.

“You tend to get Wednesday off so you only really have one session a week when you’re back at the club and you can’t really have much influence.”

Many would argue that Wasps’ gain is England’s loss. Lewsey scored 22 tries in 55 games for England and remains one of the most powerful backs in world rugby.

However, the 32-year-old has not played for his country since Martin Johnson took over as manager.

He said: “I can’t affect where I’m selected. I can’t affect which teams I’m selected for. I would have liked to have contributed over the last two years, but I don’t select the team. If I’m not part of his plans then now is the time to step aside and concentrate in an area where I can have a positive effect.”

Ian McGeechan: Wasps director of rugby and Lions manager ‘Josh has been very successful in the pressure situations. In big finals he’s been one of the go-to players to make Wasps work. It’s partly his experience and partly his ability ‘You’ve got to look at experience, and I’ve gone on record as saying you want players for the Lions who are playing well – you can’t find your form on a Lions tour – and also you want the chemistry and combinations to be right. Josh’s experience doesn’t go away.

‘His challenge is to have a good second half to the season and continue a lot of the pluses that have been there.’ Shaun Edwards: Wasps and Lions coach ‘Josh Lewsey is the most successful back there has ever been in the northern hemisphere. That’s not my opinion. That is a fact. He is also probably one of the best big-game players there has ever been in professional rugby. You look at his record in big games, it’s unparralleled for a back."