By Jason Harris
May 27 2003

Christian Califano has called time on his career with Saracens and with the French national side. The 30-year-old prop leave Sarries to return to his homeland and join Agen - former home of Abdel Benazzi and Philippe Sella - after serving just one year of his three year deal with the Men in Black. The former Stade Toulousain and Auckland Blues front rower arrived at Saracens in the midst of a contractual wrangle after Stade believed that they had first refusal of his services when he returned from New Zealand. A legal battle ensued but this was adjourned earlier this year.

Califano has also decided to retire from international rugby after winning 68 caps. Drafted in for the disgraced Pieter de Viliers during this year's Six Nations, he was then uncerimonoiously dumped by Bernard Laporte after France's defeat to Ireland.

Speaking about his decision to quit Les Bleus, Califano said "I'm putting an end to my international career and it's an irreversible decision.I think I deserved another chance."

Califano's departure and that of Bath-bound England prop David Flatman has given Saracens a huge hedache as they scrabble to enlist front row cover in time for the new season. Chief Executive Mark Sinderberry went on recrod recently and stated that the clubs is actively pursuing two new props at the moment but, with so few on the market, Sinderberry and his team will see that finding them may prove difficult.