Jason Leonard (MBE) - A Living Legend

 NAME          : Jason Leonard
 CLUB           : NEC Harlequins
 POSITION   : Prop
 BORN          : 14.8.68   Barking                               
 HEIGHT       : 1.78m (5’10”)
 WEIGHT      : 117kg (18st 7lbs)
 CAPS           : 114 (incl. 5 Lions)
 POINTS       : 5 – 1t 

It’s hard to know where to start when writing about such an immense man; a giant who embodies everything there is to love about Rugby Union, especially when one considers everything he has achieved.

There are the obvious milestones of his career: becoming the most capped forward of all time; becoming the most capped international ever (a feat made all the more extraordinary by the fact he is a prop, equally able on either side of the scrum) when he won his 114^th cap (not including 5 Lions caps) coming on as a replacement for Phil Vickery in the recent World Cup final against Australia (should point out here that he is typically a loose-head but has the ability to play tight-head even in a World Cup final); and gaining his MBE (Something I think most would find hard to disagree with).

He has lived rugby through all the highs and lows with both club and country, not to mention his appearances on the Lions tours. He has played in the amateur era as well as making a successful transition to the professional era, yet remains one of the game’s finest gentlemen. So who is the man known in Rugby circles as ‘Jase’?

Jason Leonard was born on August 14^th 1968 in Barking, making him the oldest member of England’s 2003 World Cup squad at 35; something the Kiwis found highly amusing claiming that you could not win a World Cup without fresh-faced, prime athletes in the front row. Well he did a sterling job against South Africa and Australia, scrummaging like a fresh-faced prop and making sure England had the advantage every time they packed down. Ask yourself: Would you prefer to ‘face Jase’ or some novice with maybe 2 caps?? Exactly!

He arrived at NEC Harlequins via Barking, England Colts, Eastern Counties and Saracens and at 21, Jason Leonard MBE was the youngest prop ever to play for England gaining his first two caps when he faced Argentina in 1990.   He has since captained England on 2 occasions: once against the Welsh in 1996, and his second against Argentina also in 1996; a game in which he scored his solitary international try.

What makes him a guy respected in world rugby circles? He has often said that he has been more than welcome to embrace the professional era, but maintains the amateur ethos. For instance, he prides himself on the fact that no matter who England have played and whether they have won or lost, he will be the first person to go to the opposition’s changing room, shake their hands and offer them a beer. He does it because that’s how he operates and that’s what he likes to do; not from doing what he thinks is expected of him. Again during the euphoria of winning a world cup (surely the biggest game of his rugby life given where he is in his career) whilst everyone else was parading around the pitch with the trophy and looking for loves ones (as they rightly deserved to do) Jase and Phil Vickery were seen offering condolences and sympathy to Ben Darwin, the Australia prop who seriously injured his neck in the game versus the All Blacks the previous week.

He also talks about going into the Irish changing room after England's defeat there in the delayed game of 2001. The foot-and-mouth Test; another grand slam gone. Leonard said, “I went to see Woody [Keith Wood] and the Claw [Peter Clohessy]. Some of the Irish lads may have given me a bit of a look, but Rala, their kit man, came up and gave me a cup of tea.”

 “There, you go, Jason. Two sugars” offered Rala.

 “It was just one of those moments. My guts may have been all twisted up, but if you can't lose graciously and if you can't be humble when you win, you shouldn't be playing the game.” This is the stuff of true legends. This is why given the choice, most people would say their favourite front row player in the all round arena of Rugby Union is big Jase.

So, 100 caps for a prop who once decided to have surgery on his neck because nerve damage meant he couldn't feel a thing when he bit a hole so big in his thumb that blood was pumping out. 'Even the pins and needles down my arm had gone. I knew it was time for the knife. “They went in through his throat. I was young. I healed quickly.” Hard as nails, tough and uncompromising, yet the most humble player you could have the wish to meet.

The gentle giant was over the moon when he heard he had been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s birthday honours list. “Rugby has given me so many opportunities and a great life but I never expected to receive an honour like this,” he said. “I was absolutely stunned when I opened the letter and over the moon when I took it in.” It just shows how impressive his achievements are in a sport in which there are only too many people who cannot see out a full career due to injury, and quite rightly this was recognised in the Queen’s honours.

A friend of mine (a legend of a 2^nd row called Murray Palmer) recalls a story about when he had been up to Edinburgh to watch the painful defeat in the -3 degrees sludge. On the Sunday as he was boarding the aeroplane, he prepared to take the metals out of his pockets before going through the detectors. As Murray removed his wallet, all his change and cards fell on the floor and went rolling everywhere. After blaspheming for a second, a large hand landed on his shoulder and a recognisable voice saying, “We’ll give you a hand mate”. It was no other than Jase, flanked by Lawrence Dallaglio and Will Greenwood amongst others. Could you imagine a soccer star doing the same?

Murray chatted with the guys on the plane and asked how they might get over a game like that. “A quiet pint of lager followed by 17 noisy ones tends to do the job!” was Jason’s response. Thereafter, upon landing in London, the young lad who was seeing them through the airport had obviously been tipped off that the England Rugby team were arriving and had his autograph book at the ready. Murray went through first with the England guys behind him and the young lad in the airport gave Murray his book to sign, blissfully unaware he was Hamble RFC’s second row in Hampshire 1, so Murray duly obliged. Jase was apparently curled up laughing as Murray proceeded to write his name in his finest spider-legged handwriting.

So, after Leonard’s 4^th World Cup, having been on 3 Lions tours, and becoming the most capped player in the game’s history, what is next for the big man? You can bet, provided he doesn’t offer his international retirement (which incidentally he has made no noises about doing so), he will be selected in the next VI nations due to his versatility on either side of the scrum. His next big Rugby challenge will be to ensure that Harlequins start winning trophies and competing at the top of the table again. On top of this, his girlfriend Sandra gave birth to their third daughter whilst he was away in Australia playing in the World Cup so he will have his days and nights full with being a new father all over again.

You never know, in the near future, if he is to follow the route of such greats as Probyn, Bentley and Dawe, he may just be knocking on your team door after a game and offering you a pint; and without the restrictions of the professional rugby, he may just show you how to get through those 17 noisy ones!

Colonel

References:

Observer Test Rugby Story

RFU Touchline Magazine

RFU Article

Richmond & Twickenham Times

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