Wales' most-capped rugby league player Rhys Williams believes he has been denied the send-off he deserved after being told by voicemail he would not get an international farewell.
The 35-year-old from Mold, who scored a record 24 tries for his country in 38 appearances, announced on Monday that he has retired.
Williams' season with Widnes Vikings was ended by sciatica but the wing or centre would have been fit for Wales' fixtures against Ireland at the end of October and start of November.
However, new head coach Paul Berry has opted to use those fixtures in Neath and Featherstone to look to the next generation in the cycle towards the 2030 World Cup.
Williams wanted to end on his terms but learnt that his international career, which started in 2008, was over on his answerphone.
"I had a voicemail on Saturday evening, saying that I had been dropped from the squad [as] he wanted to promote youth," he said.
"He said to give a call back if I wanted to discuss that, so I called back immediately. It rang through and then I left a message that got two blue ticks.
"He rang me back the next day and I said that I felt I shouldn't have been informed that in that way after representing my country for 17 years."