Jason Robinson

As of April 28, 2008 National: October 20, 2007 * - Rugby League

Jason Thorpe Robinson OBE (born 30 July 1974 in Leeds ) is an English former rugby union and rugby league player. He played on the positions of wings and full goalkeeper. He was known especially for his tremendous speed and agility with which he was able to achieve 28 attempts in 51 games for the English rugby union team. His greatest achievement was winning the title at the World Championships in 2003.

Playing career

Rugby League

Robinson began his career in 1991 in the variant Rugby League at the Hunslet Hawks, a club from his hometown of Leeds. A year later he was one of the best teams in the British Rugby League Premiership, the Wigan Warriors, poached. After Rugby Union in 1996 became a professional sport and the Rugby League season was moved from winter to summer, Robinson switched sides. While one half of the year he played for Bath, the other for Wigan. In 2000 he finally decided to completely 15er variant of rugby to change and signed a contract with the Sale Sharks.

Rugby Union

Robinson was in November 2000, his debut for the Sharks. In February 2001, he was considered for the England national team, as they met on Italy. He was so at the time, according to Barrie - Jon Mather only the second player, who was active for England in two variants. In the same year he was allowed to participate in the tour of the British and Irish Lions and scored a single victory of the team against Australia a try.

Robinson was duly nominated for the squad of the English for the World Cup 2003. In the preliminary round him against Georgia scored a try in the final game against Uruguay, even two. He scored in the final of the only attempt of his team, with the 20:17 in the extension won against the Wallabies at the end and for the first time world champion. During the tournament he participated in all the games and was an important pillar of the English success.

Following the World Cup title captain Martin Johnson announced end of his career and Jonny Wilkinson appointed as his successor. However, Wilkinson fell over months due to multiple injuries, so that a new captain was sought. Because of its experience and its important role within the team is certain Jason Robinson as the new team leader. In his first match as captain, he scored a hat-trick same as the English Canada beat with 70:0. With the Six Nations 2004, he again get to Italy three attempts, he was also appointed as the Player of the Day. However, the Six Nations tournament did not proceed in the following year successfully for England, so that even the captain's role Robinsons up for debate. His successor was Martin Corry.

Robinson was also part of the 2005 Lions tour. His wife, however, the fourth joint with child, he missed much of the preparation. However, it came time for the squad and could take part in the first match against New Zealand. On September 24th of the year Robinson was surprisingly its preliminary End of career with the national team known. He wanted to spend more time with his family now further grown.

Robinson returned in the Six Nations 2007, however, the squad England back after coach Brian Ashton had asked him to. In his first game for England after one and a half years he scored against Scotland at once two attempts. A week later against Italy, he scored another. After the Six Nations, he announced the end of his career after the 2006/07 season. However, he turned out for the internationals in the summer and the World Cup are available. On April 13th of that year, he played his last game for the club Sale Sharks against Bath. Appropriate to the occasion, he scored a few seconds left in the game the decisive try. His teammates called him then to execute even the increase occurs, the Robinson extremely scarce sat down next to the times Tangen.

At the World Cup in France, Robinson injured in the first game of the preliminary round, the England with 0:36 lost to the Springboks. However, he returned to the quarter-final match against Australia and was able to land with his team a surprise success. In the semi final against the hosts, he played his 50th game and was allowed to run up a second time as captain of the team. Also, this game could England win surprising and met again in the finals on South Africa. Robinson was injured in this game in the 46th minute and had to be replaced. England lost the game with 6:15 and was thus unable to defend his title.

His last game as a player denied Robinson on December 1, 2007 as part of the Barbarians at Twickenham Stadium. When he was substituted in the 68th minute, he was adopted by a great applause.

Coaching career

In March 2008, Robinson announced that he will be coach of the England Rugby League Association. He was head of children's teams. In the coming season he will take over the coaching job at his former club Sale Sharks.

Private life

His nickname Billy Whizz is based on a character in the British comic The Beano. Robinson grew up in a deprived area of ​​Leeds in the midst of a dysfunctional family, was in the power of the agenda. He has it with the rugby began a recovering alcoholic and Revivalist.

After the World Cup 2003 he published an autobiography called " Finding My Feet: My Autobiography ", in which he writes about overcoming his difficult childhood and how much the rugby he had helped to cope with his alcohol problem.

On New Year's Day 2008, he was appointed OBE.