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World`s most capped rugby player calls it quits
Bagshot, May 06: Most-capped rugby union player Jason Leonard announces retirement from game.
Bagshot, May 06: Most-capped rugby union player Jason Leonard announces retirement from game.
Rugby World Cup winner Jason Leonard, the world's most capped player, is to retire from the game at the end of the season, it was announced on Wednesday (May 5).
The former England, British Lions and Harlequins prop, who retired from the international game at the end of this year's Six Nations after winning 114 caps, will play his last match in a testimonial for former Wales back Neil Jenkins at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on June 6. "The decision has been a very difficult one to make," Leonard, 35, told the Harlequins website. "I still love the game and will miss the dressing room banter and training sessions enormously. "I wanted to go out while I am still playing good rugby...My family have had to put up with a lot of absences on my part over the years and the time has come to devote more of my time to them."
Leonard is an immensely popular player and his attitude to off-the-field activities reflect more the amateur era of the start of his career than today's highly professional game.
But there is no doubting his talent and his survival so long at the top of the game in such a punishing position is testimony to a more serious attitude towards his own fitness and conditioning.
He toured three times with the British Lions and played in four World Cup tournaments, including last year's when he came on as a replacement as England beat Australia in the final.
He had already broken former France centre Philippe Sella's record for international appearances when he won his 112th cap in the semi-final against France.
Leonard, a carpenter in his amateur days, has played for Harlequins for nearly 15 years and made more than 250 appearances for a London club once considered to be the most socially exclusive of English teams.
"I would like to thank the countless people who have helped me over the years and hope to be able to continue being involved in the game in some capacity," Leonard said.
Bureau Report
The former England, British Lions and Harlequins prop, who retired from the international game at the end of this year's Six Nations after winning 114 caps, will play his last match in a testimonial for former Wales back Neil Jenkins at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on June 6. "The decision has been a very difficult one to make," Leonard, 35, told the Harlequins website. "I still love the game and will miss the dressing room banter and training sessions enormously. "I wanted to go out while I am still playing good rugby...My family have had to put up with a lot of absences on my part over the years and the time has come to devote more of my time to them."
Leonard is an immensely popular player and his attitude to off-the-field activities reflect more the amateur era of the start of his career than today's highly professional game.
But there is no doubting his talent and his survival so long at the top of the game in such a punishing position is testimony to a more serious attitude towards his own fitness and conditioning.
He toured three times with the British Lions and played in four World Cup tournaments, including last year's when he came on as a replacement as England beat Australia in the final.
He had already broken former France centre Philippe Sella's record for international appearances when he won his 112th cap in the semi-final against France.
Leonard, a carpenter in his amateur days, has played for Harlequins for nearly 15 years and made more than 250 appearances for a London club once considered to be the most socially exclusive of English teams.
"I would like to thank the countless people who have helped me over the years and hope to be able to continue being involved in the game in some capacity," Leonard said.
Bureau Report