THE absence of skipper Donncha O’Callaghan has been down to selection according director of rugby Alan Solomons.

O’Callaghan has been left out of the matchday squad for Worcester Warriors’ past three Aviva Premiership fixtures, including Saturday’s 30-15 defeat at Wasps.

Solomons said the ex-Ireland international had been “training regularly” with the team but had decided to go with Will Spencer and Darry Barry as his lock pairing with 21-year-old Andrew Kitchener named on the bench.

Writing for The Times at the weekend, O’Callaghan stated Warriors’ home clash with Harlequins a week on Saturday (3pm) would be his last as a professional rugby player – if selected.

The 39-year-old, who has made 62 appearances for Worcester, also admitted his family would be coming over from Cork to see the match.

Speaking before the announcement of O’Callaghan's retirement, Solomons said: “He has trained regularly with the team and we have picked the team that we have because we think it has been the best team for us.

“He has been involved and has been at pretty much every practice.”

O’Callaghan has not started for Warriors since their 22-9 defeat at London Irish in late February as Solomons has favoured Spencer and Barry in the second row.

Solomons has also been impressed with academy lock Kitchener who has come off the bench in recent weeks.

“I think they are (doing a good job),” said Solomons after his side’s loss at Wasps.

“But I don’t think you can just look at it in an isolated way.

“You have got to look at it across the board.

“Where we went wrong on Saturday was that we turned over ball and we were punished for that.”