Jason Robinson regrets missing rugby’s Olympic moment

This content was originally posted in 7DAYS UAE website at: Jason Robinson regrets missing rugby’s Olympic moment Jason Robinson experienced plenty of success during his duel code rugby career. The fleet-footed winger played more than 300 games for an all-conquering Wigan Warriors league side before seamlessly making the switch to union. There he was instrumental in England winning the World Cup back in 2003. Yet Robinson looks on with envy at the current crop of rugby stars who have the opportunity to play the sport at an Olympic Games. “I wish I was 15 years younger,” Robinson told 7DAYS. “I played in major tournaments, across two different codes, but what I was never able to do was play in the Olympics. “It is absolutely massive for rugby as a whole, but for the game of sevens it will be key. Sevens has already come a long way and the competition improves every year. “It’s attracting more people all the time and that will only be amplified after Rio.” Such has been draw of playing sevens in an Olympic Games that players from union have even made the transition from the 15-a-side game. World Cup stars Sonny Bill Williams and Bryan Habana will represent New Zealand and South Africa respectively in the HSBC Sevens World Series, both hoping to impress and earn their place in Rio. As well as established names joining the game, Robinson also feels as though the impact will be felt at a grassroots level. “The key driving force is to get more people playing sevens, so the opportunity to play in the Olympics… what young player growing up in rugby wouldn’t want to be part of that?” said Robinson, who is working as an HSBC ambassador. “Hopefully that will bring more talent into the pool and the level of competition will continue to rise.” While New Zealand have traditionally dominated sevens, Robinson feels as though it won’t be long before the emerging nations are able to compete. The USA Sevens side won their first ever World Series event last year in London, while Robinson predicts Japan could well become a force following the country’s exploits at the recent Rugby World Cup. “During the World Cup it went from one million people watching them in Japan to 25 million after they beat South Africa,” he added. “So there will be a lot of people watching the Olympics there as both their men’s and women’s sides will be competing. “Similarly the US, who in Perry Baker and Carlin Isles have two guys who would have smoked me on the pitch as they are so quick. There are the guys that light up the field and I know with Rio coming up, they will be massive for rugby in the States.”   Read the original story at: Jason Robinson regrets missing rugby’s Olympic moment