Jason Robinson interview: I thought about playing for Scotland – but they were not good enough
Had things turned out a little differently, Jason Robinson might not have become one of the most iconic players in England’s history, revealing he considered honouring his mother by representing Scotland instead.
The cross-code great earned legendary status after scoring a try to help Sir Clive Woodward’s side to their historic 20-17 World Cup final victory against Australia in 2003. The following year, Robinson became the first black player to captain the men’s side and remains the only England player to score a try in a World Cup final.
Robinson now runs the Jason Robinson Foundation, which works predominantly with children and young people who experience barriers to learning, opportunity and employment.
But back in 2000, Robinson left Wigan to switch codes and join Sale. He in fact even weighed up the prospect of pledging his international allegiance to his mother’s homeland.
‘I’m half-Scottish and half-Jamaican’
Robinson’s mother, Dorothy, was born in Glasgow and grew up in Kirkintilloch, East Dunbartonshire, before moving to Leeds. His biological father is Jamaican.
“The facts are that I’m half-Scottish and half-Jamaican,” the 49-year-old tells Telegraph Sport. “I was brought up in Leeds but I grew up with my mother’s side of the family as a Scot and I didn’t know my real dad.
“We were a single-parent family, my mum was a cleaner who worked three jobs to provide for her family, and I was brought up with Scottish culture.
“Had there been a stronger Scotland team at the time, though, it certainly would have been a consideration to play for them. As it happened, that wasn’t the case back in the day, so it was an easy decision to play for England.
“Once you nail your colours to the mast, you can’t keep changing so I stuck with England. But my son, Lewis, played rugby league for Scotland and I’ve got another son who represented Scotland at under-16 level. It’s been nice for my mum that they have done that, even though I didn’t do it.
“I spent 10 years in rugby league, won 16 major trophies, and then switching to rugby union and playing in World Cups for England was just amazing. Winning the World Cup in 2003 changed my life, but it’s also important that I pass my family heritage on to my kids.”
Scotland against England, as it will be at Murrayfield on Saturday in the third round of the Six Nations, has special resonance for Robinson given his family background.
Steve Borthwick’s side scraped past Italy and Wales in their opening two games while Scotland won in Cardiff before an agonising 20-16 home defeat by France, when they were denied by an inconclusive last-gasp try review.
Significantly, however, Gregor Townsend’s side are aiming for a fourth consecutive win over the auld enemy, having won at Twickenham in Borthwick’s first game in charge last February.
“It’s a historical rivalry and everyone hates the English, don’t they?” Robinson says. “Scotland have traditionally found it hard coming to Twickenham but they’ll believe they can beat anyone at Murrayfield and it’s them holding the trump cards right now.
“Scotland have some great players and for me that late try against France should have been given and they should have won the game. They will want to put that right against England, who now have their three toughest games ahead in Scotland, Ireland and France.
“It’s still a relatively new chapter for England under Steve Borthwick and it can take time for that to unfold. You can see some of the things that they’re trying to do with the defensive line and, when they get it right, it’s extremely effective. But it’s a tough style to nail and when you get it wrong it causes you all kinds of problems. They’re lucky in that they have some young guys in there who will probably only get better with time. You can get exposed playing against the top teams during a Six Nations but that’s what it’s all about – giving players an opportunity to show what they’ve got.
“It’s been hard to judge England on these first couple of games, and despite not the best performances they have two wins from two. I’m sure over the next three games we’ll see where England really are.”
There is more than one event on Saturday that will have Robinson’s interest, however. Super League champions Wigan will take on NRL premiers Penrith Panthers in the evening as they bid to win the World Club Challenge for a record-equalling fifth time. In 1994, Robinson scored a try in that very game that helped Wigan to a famous 20-14 victory over Brisbane Broncos (watch video below).
Shaun Edwards captained the side and Andy Farrell, then 19, played in the second row as Wigan defeated the star-studded Broncos on their own turf in front of a 54,220 crowd.
“Lifting the World Cup in 2003 superseded everything in my career but, in terms of club games, winning in Brisbane in 1994 was right up there,” he says.
“Shaun and a very young Faz were massive in that game and they have carried that desire and will to win throughout their coaching careers.
“It’s no surprise to see them doing so well now because they’ve always known what’s required to win at the very highest level – in both codes. I’m proud of what Faz is doing with Ireland and Shaun with France – you can take these guys out of Wigan but you can’t take Wigan out of them.
“Wigan just seems to be the breeding ground for some of the best rugby players there has ever been. The club have a special place in my heart and I hope they can beat Penrith and achieve that coveted status as the best club side in the world.”
For details of the Jason Robinson Foundation, go to Jason Robinson Foundation | Dare to try (jr-foundation.co.uk
