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Robbo lends a hand

Jenny Dixon
15/10/2008

FORMER Sale Sharks captain Jason Robinson has traded his wellies for rugby boots in order to help the next generation of players find their feet in the game.

The father of six has become a mentor to 60,000 children as one of the leading figures in the world’s largest grassroots rugby union initiative.

Robinson explained: "I think sport is a great vehicle. Children at this age have got so much energy and need to have something positive to do.

"Rugby is a great way to use up all that energy and to give them a purpose, it’s great in many ways.

"It helped keep me off the streets when I was younger and if it happened for me, coming from the upbringing that I had and the background I had, why can’t it be the same for these guys?"

Robinson launched the HSBC Rugby Festivals scheme last Wednesday at Broughton Park rugby club, where pupils from St James High School in Cheadle Hulme took part in a 10-team tournament.

After retiring from the game after the World Cup Robinson swapped tackles for trowels and now lives with his family on a farm with sheep, horses and chickens.

Content with his new life, it had to be something special to lure Robinson away from his nature nirvana.

"This is the biggest schools rugby programme ever," said the former British Lion. "60,000 people will be involved in this so for me to be part of that as an HSBC ambassador is fantastic.

"I’m looking forward to going round and doing these festivals. It’s going to be good to work alongside the children.

"Who knows, this could be where the next Sale Sharks or England player will come from."

Under-12s to under-14s players from across the UK will take part in local and regional HSBC Rugby Festivals before the national finals at Staines RFC.

The top teams will get the chance to play in front of 40,000 people at Twickenham, during the annual Army versus Navy match, in May.

"Every time I used to play at Twickenham or any other big stadium I just knew this is what it was all about," said Robinson.

"I knew that I was in a very privileged position to be able to go out there and to perform in front of these people, so as a youngster being able to get that opportunity would be fantastic. It’s something they will never forget."

Forty schools will also be participating in the SOS Kit Aid programme, collecting old rugby kit which will be donated to schools in South Africa ahead of the British and Irish Lions tour there next year.