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Page last updated at 14:03 GMT, Monday, 17 May 2010 15:03 UK

Leeds' Titterrell ranks club before country

Andy Titterrell
Titterrell toured New Zealand with the Lions in 2005

Leeds Carnegie's Andy Titterrell says the prospect of playing for England is no longer what drives him on.

The 29-year-old former British & Irish Lions hooker won the last of his five England caps in 2005.

"It would be fantastic to play for England again. Everyone dreams of doing that," Titterrell told BBC Radio Leeds.

"But it's the furthest thing from my mind at the moment. I just want to concentrate on Leeds and focus on getting better for them."

The former Sale player joined Leeds in December on a short-term deal, and after becoming a key part of the successful Premiership survival campaign has now signed a new two-year deal.

It represents a turnaround in fortunes for Titterrell after Gloucester cancelled his contract in the summer of 2009.

That lead to the hooker taking a break from the game to decide whether to continue his rugby career.

And he has acknowledged that his time at Leeds has helped him rediscover his enjoyment of the sport.

"I just want to get myself in great shape for Leeds and perform week in, week out for this great club," Titterrell added.

"If I do that, anything else that comes on the back of it will be an added bonus.

"When I came away from the England squad I kept asking myself why, because I thought I was in the form of my life coming on the back of the Lions tour.

"As I started to ask myself too much why I wasn't being picked, and got hung up on that, it took my focus away from my game.

"But I've put all that to bed now and learned from it. I've rediscovered myself and I'm very happy, so I just want to concentrate on my Premiership rugby and things will come from that."



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see also
Titterrell pens new deal at Leeds
13 May 10 |  Leeds
Titterrell signs new Leeds deal
25 Feb 10 |  Leeds
Fourie excited by England call-up
11 May 10 |  Leeds


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