The Hunslet Club welcomed back its arguably most famous former member on December 14th, Rugby Union World Cup Winner Jason Robinson OBE.

Jason Robinson Captaining the Hunslet Boys Club Under 11's Rugby Team in 1985 

Jason took a tour of the club, seeing how it had changed since his days here, then cut the ribbon to officially open our new outdoor changing facilities, a youth games zone, an extended workshop to teach teenage car and bike mechanic courses, a culmination of many months fundraising by the club.

Jason Robinson grew up in South Leeds and attended the Hunslet Club as a child, first playing for the club junior rugby team before later becoming an English international rugby union and rugby league player, winning the World Cup in 2003 and captaining the national side in 2005. Playing at wing or fullback, he won fifty-one rugby union international test caps in total for England, and in rugby league he won twelve caps for Great Britain and seven for England.

See also this video of an interview conducted by South Leeds Community Radio with Jason.

In his autobiography, Robinson wrote: "I'd like to thank all  at Hunslet Boys club for encouraging me to play the game that gave me an inner confidence to carry through life. The club gave us an outlet for the energy kids have to burn. I don't know what I would have done without it in the evenings and at weekends.” On twitter prior to coming back to the club he tweeted "Looking forward to going back to the Hunslet Club later today to open new facilities! A big THANKYOU from one of those kids you cared to help!!"

You can see further pictures and reports from the event by the Yorkshire Evening Post here  and also South Leeds Life here. 

Jason Robinson with current members of the Hunslet Club

Yorkshire Evening Post 16/12/11

Jason collecting the Player of the Year Trophy at the Hunslet Club from Garry Schofield in 1985