AS former England A player Martin Shaw joins Darlington Mowden Park's lengthy casualty list he is pondering what to do with the rest of his life after nine years as a professional rugby player.

Still only 29, he might have had the option to play Rugby League for Widnes, while in the summer he also had contract offers from Penzance and clubs in the south of France and Italy.

"I played one game for Widnes and they were quite interested," he said. "When it came to discussing a contract they weren't sure whether they were going to stay up and I didn't know whether to pursue it or start the rest of my life.

"In the end I decided I wanted to get stuck into something in the North-East. I've done a bit of property development, so I'm looking at that and a few other things and whichever one takes off I'll pursue.

"I'm finding it very bizarre because all I've known is waking up and being told what to do and suddenly it's not happening any more."

Shaw was the star member of the Durham Colts team which reached the county final at Twickenham 11 years ago, and along with winger Mike Wood and full back Jon Benson he quickly went into West Hartlepool's first team.

Having played for England Colts, he won two England A caps and played for the Barbarians against Argentina. Then he signed for Newcastle Falcons and found himself understudying Inga Tuigamala and Scotland international Alan Tait.

"We had 14 full internationals, and I learnt so much from them," he said. "But if they hadn't been there I would have progressed a lot quicker.

"The year after we won the league I was in the team quite a lot, but then Jonny Wilkinson came in as a centre with Rob Andrew still at fly half."

There seems little doubt that a promising career stalled at that point and Shaw moved on to Sale then Bristol before finding himself back in the same position at Newcastle last season, when he was on contract but had little chance of a first team game.

"They thought they might need me if Jamie Noon got into the World Cup squad, but when that didn't happen I went down to Mowden for a few games. Then there were three injuries at Newcastle and I got dragged back up. I was on the bench a lot but only started once, which was a bit annoying.

"There have been a few missed opportunities in my career, like when I had to pull out of an England A match because of injury and the player who came in, Saracens' Steve Ravenscroft, went on the summer tour and won a full cap. It was the Tour of Hell in Australia, but I still see it as a missed chance."

Raised in Chilton, near Ferryhill, Shaw now lives in Jesmond and is happy to play for Mowden, although he plans to see a specialist for advice about his latest injury.

"It's an Achilles problem which tends to be triggered by training on heavy ground," said. "I had it last year and had a cortisone injection, which helped. But I'm not sure whether I should have another one, so I need to see a specialist for advice."

Either way, it seems he will be out for a few weeks, giving him the chance to sort out the rest of his life.