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Robinson quitting international rugby

25/09/2005

England winger Jason Robinson has announced that he is to retire from international rugby in order to spend more time with his family.

The shock decision comes just days before the squad for the autumn Tests was due to be named.

"The time has arrived to put my family and my wife before the England team," Robinson told the Mail on Sunday.

"My children want their Daddy, not some so-called superstar."

Robinson, who was a member of England’s 2003 World Cup-winning squad, made his international rugby union debut in 2001.

Prior to that, the 31-year-old Sale Sharks player had made his name as a star of rugby league.

Robinson felt that he could still be a useful player for England and that fact made his decision to quite even harder.

"Physically, I know I still have a lot to offer England so, in many ways this was a hard decision for me to make," he added.

"I didn't want to let Andy [Robinson – the England coach], or any of the England guys down but the pull of my family proved greater.

"I've got five children and a beautiful wife and it's time for them to be placed first."

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