Age: 45 Position: Prop. Clubs: Barking, Saracens, Harlequins.
Honours: 114 England caps, three British & Irish Lions tours, six Tests.
Jason Leonard is England’s most capped player, and still the most capped forward in world rugby. The legendary prop started out with local club Barking before a stellar career with Harlequins, England and the Lions.
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It will soon be the tenth anniversary of England’s 2003 World Cup final win over Australia. What are your abiding memories of that night?
I remember the mass of white shirts everywhere in Sydney, our support was just phenomenal. We really appreciated it.
What would have happened if Jonny Wilkinson had not kicked the winning drop-goal that night?
If Jonny had shanked it I honestly believe we would have still won the final. There was no way we were going to lose. We would have found another way of getting back into the Australian half and we would have still won.
The Lions celebrated their success Down Under by rapping the night away. How did you?
It was very much the same as we wanted to share our emotions with our team-mates, our family and our friends. There was very much a party atmosphere and we were determined to enjoy the great win.
Good job you didn’t lose then?
We would have partied even if we had lost. You go along for the ride and take the highs with the lows.
Are you playing in the anniversary game?
I am. We’re all ten years older but the passion will still be there as we’ll both want to win. I’ve heard some of the guys have been doing secret training!
I firmly believe we still would have won if Jonny had missed the drop-goal. We were better physically and mentally.
Were there many lows with that team?
There were a few but we didn’t take anything for granted, we didn’t showboat and we lost a few grand slams but that ended up making us better as individuals and as a team. There is a fine line between winning and losing, especially in rugby where a bounce of the odd-shaped ball can make all the difference.
Was your diet much different to the guys wearing the Red Rose today?
Actually, I don’t think it is. We were actually ahead of the game in that respect as we were looking at the calories we were taking on board and being careful how we returned to fitness after matches. We were the fittest team in the 2003 finals without a shadow of a doubt. Australia were suffering from cramp and tired out at the end of normal time in the final while we were still raring to go. It’s why I firmly believe we still would have won if Jonny had missed the drop-goal. We were better physically and mentally.
How are you enjoying your role as RFU junior vice-president?
It is tremendously exciting being involved at such a pivotal time with the World Cup just a couple of years away. It’s an honour to be a part of the set-up.
How do you think England are shaping up as the autumn internationals loom nearer?
I am pretty confident looking forward. We have a good young side and there is a lot of competition for places and a lot of potential which a couple of years ago we didn’t know we had. We now have a lot of very good youngsters coming through the ranks and stepping up when called upon.
The Heineken Cup is about to start for possibly the final time. What are you thoughts on the possibility of the new Rugby Champions Cup?
I don’t think it is decided in any way, shape or form just yet that there will be a new competition. But if there is and it has the best clubs and the best players providing the best possible entertainment for the fans then it would benefit the sport.
Tell us about the RFU’s All Schools initiative to get kids playing rugby in state schools?
There are a lot of pressures on teachers nowadays and rugby has tailed off in many state schools. It’s not an issue in the public or private schools as it is always on the curriculum, but we want as many state schools to give kids the opportunity to play rugby. We’re going to 750 state secondary schools. Rugby can reduce anti-social behaviour, enhancing learning and increase kids’ self-esteem.
How did you get involved in rugby?
At my local school in Barking we played football until a Welsh teacher turned up and introduced rugby. I was able to make the most of my strength and got a ‘well done’ by my teacher. It was great.
Jason Leonard is an ambassador for All Schools, encouraging more young people to play rugby. More information: http://www.rfu.com/allschools All Schools represents one of the RFU’s major development programmes from the 2015 Rugby World Cup; it presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver the greatest participatory legacy for the game.
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Case study: Rokeby School
Rokeby School is an inner city school in East London. With no rugby pitch and in a non-traditional rugby-playing area, it needed the RFU’s support to introduce the sport.
After just the first year, introducing rugby had a significant impact across the whole school, improving students’ confidence and discipline. The school has fully embraced rugby’s core values, which have led to improved behaviour in other lessons, particularly among students with additional needs.
Students need to attend lessons or risk being denied playing rugby, which has had a big impact. The importance of sportsmanship has also built stronger relationships with local schools while rugby has also helped to engage boys previously uninterested in sport.