Jason Leonard

Rugger
name = Jason Leonard


caption = Jason Leonard, from the cover of his autobiography
birthname = Jason Leonard
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birthyear = 1968
birthmonth = 8
birthday = 14
placeofbirth = Barking, Essex, England
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height = height|ft=5|in=10
weight = 17 st 7 lb (111 kg)
ru_position = prop|capital=yes
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ru_nationalteam = England
British and Irish Lions
ru_nationalyears = 1990-2004
1993,1997,2001
ru_nationalcaps = 114
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ru_nationalpoints = (5)
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ru_ntupdate = 13 Sept 2006
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ru_proclubs = Saracens
Harlequins
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Jason Leonard OBE (born Barking, Essex, 14 August 1968), also known as "The Fun Bus", is an English former rugby union prop, who held the world record for international appearances for a national team until 2005, when it was surpassed by Australia's scrum-half George Gregan. He also held the record for total international appearances when his five caps with the British and Irish Lions were included until 17 June 2006, when it was surpassed by Gregan. Leonard has 119 caps [cite web|url=http://www.rugbyhalloffame.com/pages/leonard2007.htm |title=Jason Leonard |publisher=International Rugby Hall of Fame |accessdate=2008-02-05] - 114 for England - to Gregan's 139 with Australia. As a player with England, Leonard won the highest international accolades possible: Grand Slam(1991, 1992, 1995 & 2003) and the Rugby World Cup (2003). He has also won a British and Irish Lions test series (1997 tour of South Africa).

Club Rugby

His lengthy career straddled the amateur and professional eras. He began playing for his home club, Barking in Essex and his school teams as a youth and as his playing talents became recognised interest was shown by London club Saracens where he moved. He later moved to Harlequins where he stayed until his professional retirement in May 2004, making 290 appearances. He would have had a far greater number of appearances but for Leonard's constant demand by England and the British and Irish Lions throughout his career.

England career 1990-1994

Leonard won his first cap in a 'friendly' 28th July 1990 against Argentina at Beunos Ares. The visitors were not made to feel welcome as the game was played on the 8th anniversary of the Fawklands War. Leonard describes in his autobiography that the hostile crowd were throwing oranges onto the pitch at the England players. The most interesting object he saw on the pitch was a bathroom tap. England eventually won the game narrowly 12-25, and it proved a baptism of fire for the young Leonard.

Leonard played his whole England career in a largely dominant pack and in his early career played with established forwards such as Brian Moore, Wade Dooley, Dean Richards, Mick Skinner, Mike Teague and Peter Winterbottom. The England pack of this era helped England Rugby win much success largely playing limited a 10 man game which suited the large and physical England forwards. During this period, England Rugby won impressive Grand Slams in 1991 and 1992. Although losing a pool match against New Zealand, England also made the Rugby World Cup Final in 1991 and narrowly lost to favourates Australia. England surprised fans and critics alike playing unexpected, open rugby when it was the forward dominating, 10 man game that saw them win matches against France and Scotland in the Quarter and Semi Finals respectively.

Alongside Brian Moore and Jeff Probyn, Leonard formed a fearsome frontrow. The England scrum was particularly solid with this trio who were able to hold their own with the best front rows from around the world.

Against Wales in 1992, Leonard won his second Grand Slam. During this match Leonard suffered a neck injury. He experienced a numbing sensation in his right arm. He had no idea he ruptured a vertibrae in his neck and continued to play the full match. He required emmergency surgery where bone from his hip was to be grafted into his neck. Leonard's career was in grave doubt only 10 tests in. Due to brilliant surgery and Leonard's strict rehabilitation regieme, he made a full recovery and won his 11th cap against Canada at Twickenham in the Autumn without missing an England test match!

In 1993 Leonard is selected for his first British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand.

England career 1995-1997

With Dick Best no longer England head coach, the RFU appoint successful Bath coach Jack Rowell as his replacement. There was much speculation amongst many established England players what changes the new coach would bring to the England set up, particularly one with such close ties to a successful Bath Rugby Club. Rowell claimed he would rid England of the cautious, forward dominating 10 man game that had brought them much success and adopt a risk free running rugby strategy that he applied at Bath Rugby.

Leonard kept his place in the England team which now included several new players such as Mike Catt, Ben Clarke, Victor Obugu, Steve Ojomo (all Bath Rugby) and Tim Rodber.

In the 1995 Five Nations, Leonard wins a record 38th cap for England for a prop against Scotland with a victory and his third Grand Slam. England hold high hopes for the pending Rugby World Cup in South Africa.

At the World Cup, England are drawn in Pool B, widely accepted as one of the easier groups of the competition. However, England experience problems with narrow victories against Argentina (18-24), Italy (27-20). In England's final pool match against Western Samoa, Leonard is rested and is record of 40 consecutive England caps is ended. England win the match comfortably (22-44) and England book themselves a Quarter Final showdown with Australia, the team that beat England in the final of the same competition four years previously.

In November 1996, Leonard captains Engand for the first time against Argentina at Twickenham. The game was very close with Argentina taking a narrow lead close to full time. Through a rolling maul, Leonard scored a try to level the scores. A Mike Catt penalty wins the game 20-18. This remains Leonard's only international try.

In the 1996-1997 season, Leonard begins to play for England at tight head prop (number 3) to make room for Leicester Tigers loose head prop (number 1) Graham Rowntree.

In 1997, Leonard is selected for his second British and Irish Lions tour, this time to South Africa.

In September 1997, the RFU appoint Clive Woodward as head coach. The Autumn internationals see England playing Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. Against Australia, Leonard finds himself selected back at loose head prop, with Waps' Will Green selected on the other side of the scrum for his first cap. For the remaining two tests Leonard is moved back at tight head. The ability to play either side of the scrum with equal effect was one of Leonard's great strengths throughout his career.

England Career 1998-2003

Leonard continues to be an England regular for Woodward's England.

In 1999, England compete in the Rugby World Cup, hosted by Wales. Matches were also played throughout the British Isles and France. England had shown signs of improvement under Woodward who had been looking to play a more expansive game but were denied a Grandslam leading up to the World Cup due to the boot of Neil Jenkins and a 80th minute try by Scott Gibbs.

England were drawn in Pool 2 with New Zealand, Italy and Tonga.

For the 2000 Autumn internationals, Leonard is dropped to the bench replaced by Graham Rowntree.

Misc

Leonard is involved in several charities, and is an honorary president for the Essex region of the Wooden Spoon Society, a charity for disadvantaged children and young persons.

A class 357 EMU train (number "357 003") has the nameplate "Jason Leonard" and is operated by c2c on the London, Tilbury and Southend line which serves his hometown of Barking, Essex.

ee also

*List of rugby union Test caps leaders

References

External links

* [http://statistics.scrum.com/rugby_stats_05.asp?ID=ELE11 Profile at scrum.com]