Jason Leonard
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| Jason Leonard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Jason Leonard, from the cover of his autobiography |
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| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Jason Leonard | ||
| Date of birth | August 14 1968 | ||
| Place of birth | Barking, Essex, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||
| Weight | 17 st 7 lb (111 kg) | ||
| Rugby union career | |||
| Playing career | |||
| Position | Prop | ||
| Clubs | Caps | (points) | |
| Saracens Harlequins |
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| National team(s) | Caps | (points) | |
| 1990-2004 1993,1997,2001 |
England British and Irish Lions |
114 5 |
(5) (0) |
Jason Leonard OBE (born Barking, Essex, August 14, 1968), also known as "The Fun Bus", is an English former rugby union prop, who held the world record for international appearances for a national team until 2005, when it was surpassed by Australia's scrum-half George Gregan. He also held the record for total international appearances when his five caps with the British and Irish Lions were included until 17 June 2006, when it was surpassed by Gregan. Leonard has 119 caps[1] - 114 for England - to Gregan's 139 with Australia. As a player with England, Leonard won the highest international accolades possible: Grand Slams and the Rugby World Cup.
His lengthy career straddled the amateur and professional eras, and saw him playing for Barking, Saracens, and Harlequins. He was first capped in 1990 against Argentina, and played a record 114 times for England, and 24 times (including 5 caps) for the British and Irish Lions. Most commentators believe his record is unlikely ever to be beaten by another prop.
Leonard was part of the England team that won the 2003 Rugby World Cup, coming on as a substitute in the final, adding what was regarded by many as a calming presence in the scrum. The 2003 tournament was his fourth World Cup and the second time he had appeared in the final, the first coming in 1991 when England lost to Australia.
Leonard underwent anterior cervical fusion in May 1992 to repair two damaged vertebra in his neck.[citation needed]
He has made a rugby DVD called Jason Leonard's Big Hits.
Leonard is involved in several charities, and is an honorary president for the Essex region of the Wooden Spoon Society, a charity for disadvantaged children and young persons.
A class 357 EMU train (number 357 003) has the nameplate "Jason Leonard" and is operated by c2c on the London, Tilbury and Southend line which serves his hometown of Barking, Essex.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Jason Leonard. International Rugby Hall of Fame. Retrieved on 2008-02-05.
[edit] External links
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