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Thursday, 23 January, 2003, 09:52 GMT
Robinson ready for St Helens
England full-back Jason Robinson in training
Robinson "has nothing left to prove"

On Monday, Jason Robinson returns to rugby league for the first time since his much publicised switch to union in 2000.

The England full-back lines up for Sale against St Helens in the first cross-code game for six years.

Back in 1996, Robinson was part of the Wigan team that beat Bath 82-6 in the league encounter before losing the union game 44-19.

It's fair to say that those two games were a farce

Jason Robinson on the Wigan-Bath clash

This time around, he will be in the Sale ranks as they lock horns with St Helens at Knowsley Road.

And he is relishing the opportunity to shine in a match split into one half of league and one half of union.

He told BBC Sport Online: "I really enjoyed my time in league and I'll be looking forward to trying it out again.

"That said, I've spent the last three years being shouted at to let go of the ball in the tackle and now I'll be forcing myself to hold on to it."

Robinson's team-mates are certain to look to him for league guidance but he feels no added pressure on his shoulders.

"The thing is, I've got nothing to prove in either league or union," he said. "There's no additional pressure because of my past.

"This is simply a new challenge and one I'm looking forward to."

England full-back Jason Robinson in training
Robinson is looking forward to playing league again
The marketing men at Sale are confident the mismatches of the Wigan-Bath clash will be avoided this time around.

But for Robinson the memory of the two games still makes him cringe.

"It's fair to say that those two games were a farce," he said.

"Obviously we were 50 points up in the rugby league game and you could see the crowd was bored.

"That's part of the reason why this is being played over the course of just one evening and it's up to us, the players, to ensure it's not a one-sided affair."

Sale are in the midst of a strong run in the Premiership and lie second in the table while St Helens have yet to begin their Super League campaign.

See also:

14 Jan 03 | Rugby League
13 Jan 03 | Super League
Links to more English stories are at the foot of the page.


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