Dawson played a major role in England's 2003 World Cup win

The 33-year-old announced on Friday that he was quitting the game after a glittering career which included 77 England caps, three Lions tours and a Rugby World Cup win.

"It's definitely been the right thing for me to do - the timing of it was just perfect," Dawson told BBC Sport's Grandstand programme.

Dawson is the latest in an ever-increasing number of the team which beat Australia to win the Webb-Ellis Trophy in 2003 to announce his retirement.

The likes Martin Johnson and Neil Back were quick to leave the international scene after beating Australia, but Dawson was still fresh enough to solider on for another two-and-a-half years.

"I felt I had more rugby in me, as hopefully I've proved," said Dawson.

"For the last few England games I've been on the bench but I came on and had input into the game and was hopefully influential.

"I'd like to think I've finished towards the top of the game rather than flogging it and hanging on, which I promised myself I'd never do."

I'll sit down with a few beers and watch the World Cup final on my own and see what a very special day it was Matt Dawson

Dawson is already a team captain on the BBC's Question of Sport quiz programme and he intends to keep himself busy once he hangs up his boots.

"I'm in a very fortunate position that I have opportunities to do something else," he said.

"I'm really going to knuckle down and concentrate my mind on being as professional as I have been in my rugby to a job outside rugby.

"The whole package of the next stage of my life is very exciting."

The 2007 World Cup in France is only 18 months away, but Dawson is adamant he will not be there.

"I've been unbelievably fortunate to be part of a great side and to win a World Cup," he said.

"Not once have I said 'I'm going to the 2007 World Cup' because I needed the flexibility to take opportunities outside of rugby, if they became apparent.

Dawson, here with the Lions, was never afraid to get his point across

"Also I needed to monitor how I was going fitness-wise and mentally.

"It's all right when the sun is shining in April and May but when it's pretty dour and muddy in November, December, January, it's very tough to get through."

Like many top scrum-halves Dawson has a spiky side to his character, as he freely admits.

"I am very competitive - probably to a fault in my earlier years," he said.

But it was that attitude which carried him to the top and played a major part in England's World Cup win.

Everyone remembers Jonny Wilkinson's nerveless kick to win the tournament but it was Dawson's 15-metre break seconds before which turned a highly-missable chance into a near-certainty.

When asked for his career highlights Dawson names claiming the Premiership with Wasps and winning with the Lions in South Africa in 1997 as other stand-out moments.

But he knows that he will always be remembered for his part in England's triumph in Sydney.

"Everyone knows about the 2003 World Cup final, which I've yet to see," he said.

"I can now follow through with my promise to myself that on retirement I'll sit down with a few beers and watch it on my own and see what a very special day that was."