News about Jason Robinson

As an international head coach, you cannot be constrained by external factors around selection because they don't allow you to pick your best team and therefore create a readymade excuse. That's what the RFU's policy, which means you can't play for a club outside of England and also represent Steve Borthwick's national side, does. I've long been of the view it is an archaic ruling which doesn't work in the society we all live in today. I look at it through a very blunt lens. Does the overseas rule make England more competitive? Or, as an Olympic rowing team would say: 'Does it make the boat go faster?' For me, the answer is an emphatic no.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: It's a long shot, but England will still win the 2024 Six Nations with a victory away from France on Saturday night as long as Ireland is defeated at home by Scotland. Steve Borthwick and his teammates will know the outcome from Dublin by the time they take to the field in Lyon. Whatever happens, England must play as if the Championship is on target. That is the attitude I would have taken this week if I had been in Borthwick's shoes as head coach. If Ireland defeats Scotland and win the title, it will be well done. That's out of England's hands.

Exclusive INTERVIEW BY NIK SIMON: Jason Robinson is already pinching himself after having breakfast in the restaurant of a five-star hotel for two decades. 'It still hasn't sunk in,' he says. 'Going to Buckingham Palace, having tea with the Queen and asking about my white boots - meeting the Prime Minister.' This was not supposed to happen to children like me when we sat here surrounded by palm trees. I left school at 15, and my first job was to clean metal. No GCSEs were required, but I did get an OBE and an MBE straight away. It's surreal.' Robinson, who is now 49 years old, is looking as lean as ever. These days, he is carrying his 2003 World Cup champion's medal around Yorkshire schools, trying to inspire children who grew up on a parallel track. After going through the hands of hundreds of school children, it has developed a few scratches along the way, and the box is used out. Robinson's story never stops.

This World Cup is one of my favorites, SIR CLIVE WOODWARD. There have already been a lot of highs and lows, and it's only going to get better. Here are my tournament talking points from the action we've seen so far…

Zara Tindall competed in the Burghley House Trials in Lincolnshire today, showcasing her equestrian prowess. The royal, 42, who is an avid sportswoman and Olympic silver medalist, rode Class Affair for a walk through the competition. The niece of King Charles' niece, who wore a denim jacket and black trousers, tied her hair back into a low bun and shielded her eyes from the sun with sunglasses.

Following his success on I'm a Celebrity, Get me out of Here last year, Mike Tindall (pictured) is expected to appear on the small screen once more. On new ITV reality show Grand Slammers, King Charles' niece Zara (pictured) and former rugby international 44, 44, will compete. Mike will enter HMP The Mount prison with his intent to build and prepare a team of prisoners strong enough to face a formidable foe, the Australians. Captain Martin Johnson, Jonny Wilkinson, Lawrence Dallaglio, Phil Vickery, Jason Robinson, Will Greenwood, Ben Cohen, Mike Tindall, and Matt Dawson are among the other participants in the facility, which is home to one of the few remaining rugby pitches inside an adult male English jail. The series, which will include two 90-minute shows, will give viewers a 'vivid insight into how sport can change lives' as the England legends open up to inmates about how rugby had a massive effect on them during their formative years and gave them a purpose in life,' according to the production company behind it.

Terrified British families who have survived fire-ravaged Rhodes (left and insets) have portrayed the scenes of terror and chaos during their desperate evacuations. As the Greek island was scorched by ferocious fires, the first holidaymakers who arrived back in London Gatwick (right) have outlined how they survived a grueling three days without cold water or air conditioning. Due to the fact that the power was cut out, Ari, an Iraqi national, and his partner had to endure three days at their hotel without air conditioning or cold drinks. The 41-year-old, a teacher in Tesco, said, 'We had no electricity in our hotel for three days, no cold drinks, and no air conditioning in the heat... for three days it was like that.' To go down the corridor at night, we had to use our phone lights.' We saw a lot of smoke, but we didn't see the fires.'

DAVID PILDITCH: After helping to turn a playing pitch into a work of art, England legend Jason Robinson took on a new challenge head-on to mark the Rugby World Cup. Robinson, the only Englishman to attempt in a World Cup-winning squad, is set to paint the intricate 'grassterpiece' that honors the home countries' finest World Cup moments. Robinson, 48, was part of a team that completed the pitch-art mural at Warwickshire's home.

Morgan Turinui, a former Wallabies centre, has branded cheeky NRL player Brandon Smith a 'li' for remarks made about teammate Joseph-Aukuso Suaaliy's code swap.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: England will face France and Ireland in their final two games of the Six Nations, there are two main areas where they will have to do well and expand on. Steve Borthwick has won two games in his first three games after winning in Cardiff. It isn't a perfect record, but it isn't bad either. Now his squad will be ready for the Six Nations big guns, starting with the French. The two top teams in the competition by far are France and Ireland. If England is to win, they must start by focusing on their kicking game first. They neither kicked to compete or kicked to turn the opposition's defense in the Scotland loss.

DAVID COVERDALE: Dom Young would have played for Jamaica and will now be heading home if the World Cup had been held as planned a year ago. He has scored eight tries in three games for England, as well as two weeks in a row, and there could be a big two weeks to come. Young, a Wakefield boy, qualified for Jamaica through his grandparents, and with his brother Alex, they were all set to represent the Reggae Warriors. However, with the tournament postponed by 12 months, England coach Shaun Wane was alerted to the 21-year-old's form in Australia's NRL and poached him right away. We were hoping to get Dom for Jamaica,' says team operations manager Jason Robinson, whose father is Jamaican.' I'm sure he chose England, but I can't remember why.'

Jason Robinson gained 19 international caps in Rugby League and has competed against dozens of nations, but Pacific Islanders are the most difficult of them all. As England takes on Samoa, Papua New Guinea promises to be a surprise package at the Rugby League World Cup, which will open on October 15 at St James' Park. They don't necessarily look good, but if you run into any Papua New Guinean player, they will most likely pick you up and dump you,' Robinson says. 'It's like running into a car'

Jason Robinson, England's best-known for his brisk pace, has returned to his boyhood club to celebrate the efforts of grassroots clubs and volunteers ahead of the Rugby League World Cup. Robinson may have terrorized defenders in both codes of his sport around the world, but he has no concern for the children at The Hunslet Club. He was back to highlight the invaluable work of Rugby League coaches and assisters up and down the region, as well as the establishment of a competition to celebrate their hard work.