Kelly Brown should consider announcing his international retirement and focus on life at Saracens, according to British & Irish Lions flanker Stephen Ferris.

Brown – a former Scotland captain with 64 caps to his name – was left out of the Rugby World Cup by head coach Vern Cotter.

His last cap arrived in June 2014, while New Zealand-born duo John Hardie and Blair Cowan have leapfrogged the 33-year-old in the pecking order at openside flanker.

Saracens lock Jim Hamilton retired from international rugby following his omission from Scotland World Cup squad and former flanker Ferris, who toured South Africa with the Lions in 2009, admits his clubmate could follow suit.

“If I didn’t get picked for a World Cup at his age and at a really good club like Saracens, I would really think about retiring from international rugby,” said Ferris, who was talking at an SSE Rugby House Party, where he surprised one lucky customer and watched a World Cup quarter-final in their living room.

“He has been a stalwart of Scottish rugby over the years but I think he is married with a couple of kids as well and sometimes family can be more important."

“But if he thinks he is capable of still mixing it in international rugby then he should soldier on.”

Indeed, Brown appears to be entertaining the idea, having all but given up hope of returning to favour in Cotter’s squad.

“Let's just see what happens,” said the Saracens man. “I'd say, though, that there is close to no chance I'll ever play for Scotland again."

“What makes me say that? Well, the squad has moved on and the guys who have come in are younger than me."

“As a sportsman I've got to keep backing myself, and I do. But at the same time I understand the need for the team to evolve and I accept that.”

And the omens don’t look too good for Brown, who will seek to help Sarries retain their Premiership title this season, after Hardie especially shone in Scotland’s promising World Cup campaign – which ended in dramatic circumstances against Australia on Sunday.

Ferris added: “It may have been a bit of a gamble to leave out those experienced guys but it seems to have worked well."

“Guys like Kelly Brown have been involved in the Scotland team for years and maybe it was time to bring a few guys in and replace the likes of them."

“It’s Vern Cotter’s decision and it seems to be the right one at the moment.”

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