Robinson spent eight years in rugby league before joining Sale

The 32-year-old will quit club rugby at the season's end and retire altogether after the World Cup, if selected.

"Last October the coaches said they really wanted to sign me and somebody would give me a call," he said.

"It was about three months after that when somebody said they wanted to talk to me. By then I'd made my mind up."

Robinson insisted he was not leaving the club on bad terms.

I cannot see for one minute me looking back and wishing I'd played another year Jason Robinson

"There is no doubt that the club probably wanted to keep me but, if you've got something that you want, then you probably need to act a bit quicker to keep it," he said.

"Maybe they weren't fast enough but I've no gripes with the club.

"I've had some great years here and I am certainly not leaving on a bitter note."

Robinson, who has three children, said he felt it was time to spend more time with his family.

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"I still enjoy my rugby, it's not that I've fallen out with the game or lost my passion, otherwise I wouldn't have made myself available for England.

"But for many years now, my family have been on the back-burner. They've followed me from pillar to post and had me at my worst.

"There are no regrets. I did everything I could have done in rugby league and I feel the same about rugby union.

"I don't want to keep going on and play for the sake of playing.

"I've had 15 years of it in the top flight and I think it's time to get out and just enjoy life."

He also ruled out any chance of entering the world of coaching.

"I couldn't think of anything worse," he said.