Scotland's record points-scorer Chris Paterson has stepped down from the international stage after 109 appearances.
Record-breaking full-back to focus on club career
Scotland's record points-scorer Chris Paterson has stepped down from the international stage after 109 appearances.
Paterson, now 33, has scored 809 points for Scotland and earned a reputation as a highly accurate kicker.
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The full-back, who has also played at fly-half and on the wing, also scored 22 tries - but with his last one coming in 2007, he misses out on surpassing Ian Smith and Tony Stanger on 24.
However Paterson, whose last international appearance came in the 16-12 loss to England at the World Cup, has been struggling of late with a hamstring injury.
And he has opted to quit the national team in order to prolong his Edinburgh career.
He told www.scotlandrugbyteam.org: "I've always said I wanted to bow out at the highest level of the game, while I still had the ability to go on.
"Since coming back (from the World Cup) I've had a while to think about it and I believe now is the right time to make my decision, especially when I've still been playing well at that level.
"My biggest fear would be devaluing what I have achieved and devaluing the jersey. You have to stop at some point and this is the right time for me."
Paterson, who will be 34 in March, will continue to play for Edinburgh until the end of the season, while there is the option of a one-year extension.
Fantastic
Scotland head coach Andy Robinson added: "What a fantastic career Chris has had for Scotland. He should be celebrated as one of Scotland's greatest ever internationalists.
"I respect his decision and thank him for all he has done. Having coached against him, he was a player I always earmarked as a real threat.
"Coaching him has been a delight, primarily because of his many attributes, not least that constant desire to get better."
Paterson made his debut for Scotland in 1999 against Spain - going on to become the first Scot to reach the century landmark 11 years later against Wales.
Such was Paterson's accuracy with the boot that he landed 36 successive efforts between August 2007 and June 2008 - covering both the World Cup and the RBS Six Nations.
