Cayman rugby players, along with the general public, had the opportunity to meet sporting legend Jason Robinson, who gave back to youngsters while also getting to enjoy mahi mahi and mudslides with his family.
Robinson, 50, considered one of the best players from England, competed in three World Cup finals, including the 2003 event where he scored his team’s only try to help secure the title.
He reached the summit in both rugby league and rugby union, winning 51 rugby union international caps for England, and was the first black man to captain that squad.
These days, the retired rugby star and Officer of the Order of the British Empire has been enjoying the fruits of his labour, as he was able to check off the Cayman Islands from his wish list of vacation destinations.
“It’s the first time that I’ve been to Cayman,” Robinson told the Compass. “I’m lucky enough to have a good friend that lives on island so when I was asked to come over it was an easy decision.”
That decision also led to Robinson attending the Cayman Rugby Football Union annual gala as a guest speaker on 25 Oct., as well as dropping by the South Sound Rugby Club to help train youth players the day after.
At that special training session, Robinson passed on rugby techniques to both girls and boys, and he emphasised during a Q&A the importance of belief in your own ability.
But his Saturday visit at the club didn’t end there. He also enjoyed watching the RF Bank and Trust October 7s Series, which concluded with Team Westin claiming the championship.
“I had the opportunity to share my story and some stories in rugby at the gala and also to help raise money for the rugby club,” Robinson said.
“I went to the sevens tournament. Prior to that, I did some catching with the youngsters. It was good to pass on the knowledge to some of the younger kids to help them.”
Through being a spectator at sevens games and training the up-and-comers, Robinson said he saw players with the potential to excel in the sport.
“There is a lot of talent around,” he said. “it is a very small island. You don’t have the numbers and the same competition that I would see in the UK, so considering the numbers on island I thought it was really good.”
Mahi mahi and mudslides
Outside of giving back to the sport which brought him fame and honours, he was able to enjoy staying in an East End residence with his wife and two kids.
He noted that his only regret was that he didn’t visit years ago.
“The island is amazing,” he said. “I’m disappointed that I’ve got to the age of 50 and I didn’t come here sooner. It’s just been really relaxed. We’ve tried the mahi mahi, and the mudslide. I’m liking the island life and I’m leaving with a sense of regret because I know what I am going back to in the UK.”
However, he stressed that this wouldn’t be his first and only visit.
“There is no doubt in my mind I will be back,” Robinson said. “It was great meeting everyone – not just the people that are running the club – it was nice to meet some rugby fans, the sponsors and the children who are the future of rugby in Cayman.
“I’ll be recommending some of my rugby friends to come to the island.”
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