Jamie George considered ending his England career because of the shock and pain of losing the captaincy before the start of the Six Nations.
Hooker George, 34, succeeded Owen Farrell as England skipper before last year’s championship, but was replaced by Saracens team-mate Maro Itoje in January.
“It was hard, it was difficult, it was frustrating and obviously then that makes you question if you can do it,” he told BBC Sport’s Rugby Union Weekly podcast.
“I won’t lie and say it didn’t go through my head [finishing his England career] because I didn’t really know how logistically it would work and if it would be too awkward to be coming back in. I didn’t want to tread on any toes.”
George says he consulted his father, uncle and wife on his decision, and not all of them thought he should continue his international career.
“But ultimately it was ‘what is your gut feel?” George added. “Initially I didn’t know if I could go back, but I watched the Ireland game [this year’s Six Nations opener which he missed through injury] and all I wanted to do was be back on that field because I missed it.”
Under George, England finished third in the 2024 Six Nations, but then suffered a run of five successive defeats in matches against New Zealand, Australia and South Africa across the summer and autumn.
England won five of 12 Tests under his stewardship.
George, who has picked up three Six Nations titles and played in the 2019 World Cup final, said head coach Steve Borthwick broke the news to him over coffee in a “pretty to-the-point” conversation in St Albans.
“I think he was surprised by me questioning myself,” added George. “I think it would hit anyone hard. It was a job that I loved, I was incredibly proud to be able to do it and I felt I was at the start of something. It was a surprise.”
