Jason Leonard, MBE is a former England player who held the world record for international appearances for a national team until 2005, when it was surpassed only by Australia's George Gregan. Jason still holds the record for total international appearances when his five caps with the Lions are included. He has 119 caps - 114 for England - to Gregan's 115 all with Australia.
His career straddled the amateur and professional eras, playing for Barking, Saracens, and Harlequins. He was first capped in 1990, and played a record 114 times for England, and 24 times (including 5 caps) for the British and Irish Lions. Most commentators believe that his record is unlikely ever to be beaten by another prop.
Jason was part of the England team that won the 2003 Rugby World Cup, and came on as a substitute in the final, adding what was regarded by many as a calming presence in the scrum.
Fran Cotton, the former Lions and Englandprop, paid tribute last night to JasonLeonard, who announced yesterday that he was to retire from international rugby at the end of the Six Nations, by stating that Leonard's world record of 114 caps may never be equalled.
Leonard came on as a substitute during England's night of delight in Sydney, so earning the World Cup winner's medal that had eluded him when losing to Australia in the 1991 final.
Leonard is the third member of England's World Cup-winning squad to retire, after Martin Johnson and Kyran Bracken also decided to call it a day.
Rugby World Cup winner JasonLeonard was in Birmingham today to support an inner city school which has a thriving rugby team even though they do not have a grass pitch to play or train on.
Leonard, the former NEC Harlequins and Englandprop, has taken up an ambassadorial role with the coaching scheme since he retired from playing which is why the world's most-capped rugby player was in Birmingham today.
Leonard will be presenting the prizes on the second day of the tournament which is being staged at the birthplace of rugby for the third consecutive season.
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