The formality will no doubt be completed at Sale on Friday, leaving Stimpson - selected in Clive Woodward's 50-man England training squad last week - to concentrate on resurrecting his international career. He said: 'This is a big year and I want to play in the World Cup. It's a hole in my rugby experience so far - I want to play consistently well for England at home and win a World Cup. Maybe that will be enough for me to retire happy .'