Wales flanker Colin Charvis has hinted he will retire from rugby when his Newcastle contract expires next season. The 32-year-old returned to action last Sunday after 12 weeks out having opted against surgery to cure two broken bones in his foot.
"Because of my age the surgeons thought it was pointless taking six months out and having everything pinned back when I only have a year left of playing.
"So we opted for two months out and getting me back (quicker)," he said.
Charvis' injury kept him out of Wales' Six Nations victory and essentially ruled him out of contention for the Lions squad to tour New Zealand this summer.
But the 75-cap flanker says he found it harder watching Newcastle matches than Wales' march to a first Grand Slam in 27 years.
"It's been a very frustrating couple of months, and it's the longest I've been out for four or five years," said Charvis, who joined Newcastle from French Second Division side Tarbes last June.
"In a funny way it's been easier to be away from the Wales games than it has for the Falcons matches, because Wales have been doing well during that time, whereas Newcastle haven't achieved as much as we'd hoped."
Charvis is set to make only his 17th start for the Falcons in Friday's league match against Northampton.
Newcastle lie seventh in the Zurich Premiership but Charvis insists they have not given up hope of Heineken Cup qualification.
"I'm not the greatest mathematician around, so I don't know what our odds are for making the Heineken Cup next year, but if we win our last two games we should be in the Wild Card play-offs," he added.
"I am happy to come back into the team at this point, because there is really something we can aim for and get our teeth stuck in to."
MMIX
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if we win our last two games we should be in the Wild Card play-offs