Ten years to the day from winning the World Cup in Australia former Sale Sharks star Jason Robinson is still bitter about the end of his time at the club.
Robinson, who made over a 100appearances for Sale, went over in the corner to score a try just before half-time in the 2003 final as England eventually ran out 17-20 winners after a Jonny Wilkinson drop-goal in extra time.
But speaking to the Times the man, who described himself in 2009 as ‘probably the most inexperienced coach in the Premiership’, hit out at the club he came back to help.
“I wasn’t going to go into coaching at all. But I was asked, ‘Would you help us out?’,” said Robinson who spent seven years as a player at Sale.
“I was badly let down. I got a message to say they’d signed someone else: ‘You’re out, don’t come in tomorrow’.
“Having served so much time at the club, I’d have expected a bit more than a text message from the owner. I was absolutely appalled and that’s the reason I’ve not been back to the club since. Never.”
Robinson, who scored the match-winning try in his final match for Sale against Bath in 2007, was appointed Head Coach at the Sharks for the 2009-10 season with Kingsley Jones replacing Philippe Saint-Andre as director of rugby.
A number of high profile players also left the side before the start of the 09/10 season and subsequently Sale only managed to secure their premiership status after the penultimate round of fixtures.
Former All Black forward Mike Brewer replaced the ex England winger at the Sharks but only lasted eight months himself.
The one-time Wigan Warriors star now pursues a number of different business interests but still trains with Keighley RUFC.
Image courtesy of Sale Sharks via YouTube, with thanks
