Help For Heroes Challenge Match
Robinson set for one last hurrah
PA Sport
September 18, 2008
Robinson is sure of a warm reception at Twickenham on Saturday
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Jason Robinson is determined to dazzle the Twickenham crowd for one last time in Saturday's Help for Heroes charity match and he promised: "There is still some Whizz left in Billy." The former England and Lions flyer has come out of retirement in order to join a star-studded cast and help raise £1million for Britain's wounded soldiers. Robinson had not been in a gym since hanging up his boots and his only sporting activity since playing for the Barbarians last November was a dads-versus-coaches match at his children's football camp. But as soon as the call came in last Saturday from Help for Heroes XV team manager Phil de Glanville, Robinson dug out his trainers and hit the fells with ambitions of reproducing his magic just one last time. "I said I wouldn't come back playing again but there are certain things you have to do,'' said Robinson. "As soon as I got the call on Saturday morning, it was a case of 'how could I turn this down?' I then did my first training session last Saturday evening. "I went for a run in the fells. I knew I had to get myself into shape in a week. It was a bit like a Rocky film! I don't know if it is because this is a rugby pitch but, I pulled my boots on this week and I think I am going to be flying at the weekend. "I must have been saving all my energy over the last nine months for this game. And Martin Offiah has given me hope. He is 42 and he has still got the gas! It is right we go out there and put in a good performance because there will be a lot of feeling at Twickenham on Saturday. "The rugby world owes it to these guys to raise a lot of money and this is a great way to do it.'' Robinson will not only link up with former Wigan and Great Britain team-mate Offiah in Saturday's spectacular but he is also reunited on a rugby field with 2003 World Cup-winning team-mates Lawrence Dallaglio, Richard Hill, Will Greenwood, Dan Luger and Mark Regan. England's new team manager Martin Johnson will start the game from the bench - but took the news well. "He couldn't make training yesterday so for his lack of commitment he is on the bench,'' joked De Glanville. "On a serious note, we wanted to make sure we have a decent number of the legends finishing the game so he and Martin Offiah are on the bench.'' The International squad is captained by former Wales and Lions centre Scott Gibbs and features Jonah Lomu, who has travelled from New Zealand especially and hopes to be involved despite injuring a heel in training yesterday.The Help for Heroes cause has struck a chord with the public and participants alike, with 46,000 tickets already sold. Robinson has met some of the wounded servicemen who are being treated at the Hedley Court rehabilitation centre, where the funds will be channelled, and he has found the last week an emotional experience. "I spoke to Phil de Glanville last Saturday morning. In the evening I heard on the radio that Jason Rawstron had been killed in Afghanistan. He was just 23 and from Lancashire. "It made me think. I have been all over the world and represented my country in rugby. We talk about putting our bodies on the line but these guys are really doing that on a daily basis.I was speaking to a guy yesterday who had been blown up and had both legs amputated. "He is talking to me as if I am a hero and I am thinking 'hang on a minute, I just play rugby'.I am giving help to real heroes. Having met a lot of the guys and heard what they have been through, this is the least I can do. "I can't comprehend what it must be like for them when they come back and they have seen friends killed and all sorts of things.They need to know when they come back that they should be treated like heroes. This country owes it to them. This is a great way rugby can say 'we are behind you'.'' Robinson will start in the unaccustomed position of inside centre for the Help for Heroes XV, which blends a mix of former Test stars, future England hopefuls and players from the armed services. Tickets for the Help the Heroes Challenges are available in advance from Ticketmaster by calling 0844 847 2492 or www.Ticketmaster.co.uk. Tickets will also be available from 11am on the day. Help for Heroes Challenge at Twickenham on Saturday, September 20; kick-off 2.30pm. Help for Heroes XV - M Roberts (Army); M Odejobi (Wasps), W Greenwood (England), J Robinson (England), D Luger (England), A Goode (Saracens), J Simpson (Wasps); N Catt (Bath), M Regan (Bristol, England), T Mercey (Saracens), R Sugden (Army), S Hobson (Bath), M Cornish (Royal Air Force), R Hill (England), L Dallaglio (England, capt). Replacements: M Johnson (England), T O'Keeffe (Royal Marines), R Matthews (Royal Air Force), P Volley (London Scottish), M Offiah (Wigan Warriors, Great Britain RL), D Pascoe (Royal Navy), D Shabbo (London Irish), G Leonard (Royal Air Force), H Barratt (London Wasps). International XV - J Bishop (Doncaster Knights, Ireland); K Phillips (Ospreys), A Flammia (Royal Air Force), S Gibbs (Wales, capt), K Logan (London Wasps, Scotland); R Priestland (Scarlets), G Easterby (Otley, Ireland); D Hilton (Bristol), G Bulloch (West of Scotland, Scotland), D Morris (Worcester Warriors, Wales), G Llewellyn (Wales), H Parr (Royal Air Force), D Jones (Scarlets, Wales), C Charvis (Newport Gwent Dragons, Wales), J Kava (Army). Replacements: S Byrne (Saracens, Ireland), S Ruwers (Worcester Warriors), M Cormack (Royal Navy), M Lee (Army), Z Feaunati (Bath, Samoa), M Young (Newcastle Falcons), M Rhodes (Royal Marines), D Hewitt (Cardiff Blues), J Lomu (New Zealand). |
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