ENGLAND World Cup rugby union winner and Great Britain rugby league legend Jason Robinson has decided to come out of retirement and play for Fylde RFC in the 2010/11 season.

'Great' is a vastly overused word in sport, but former British Lion Robinson wears the label with ease. Following retirement in the 2007/8 season, he's keen to return to playing the game that he loves so much and feels that at 35 he can still make an important contribution, on and off the pitch.

His return to action at Brooklands sees him teaming up again with Fylde head coach Mark Nelson, Sale's backs coach in their Premiership winning 2005/6 season, and former England head coach Brian Ashton, who has recently returned to his former club in a coaching role.

Nelson said: “I am absolutely delighted. Given his record in both codes of the game, it's not an exaggeration to say that he is the best ever rugby player. It's a fantastic opportunity for our players to play alongside such an experienced and mercurial talent. I expect a number of players will express an interest in joining the club to have a similar opportunity."

“It’s a remarkably fortunate coincidence for me to be returning to help out my old club Fylde as Jason arrives to play.” said Ashton. “I have had the privilege of working with Jason and know that his stature, ability and qualities as a player and a person will benefit all who come into contact with him, both on and off the field.”

In a glittering career at Wigan RL Jason won 12 caps for Great Britain and seven for England before switching to rugby union where he represented England 51 times and went on British Lions tours to Australia (2001) and New Zealand (2005).

He joined Bath in 1996 for a brief period, where he linked up with Brian Ashton, and made a permanent move to the union code in 2000 with Sale Sharks. He played for the Sharks up to his retirement from full-time club rugby at the end of 2007.

His last appearance for his country was in the World Cup Final against South Africa in 2007.

He returned to Sale in 2009/10 as head coach and left Edgeley Park at the end of that campaign.

Fylde is one of the leading clubs in the North West of England, based in Lytham St Annes on the Lancashire coast. The club plays in English rugby's National Two (North) where they will be lining-up against Kendal home and away in the coming season.

Jason Robinson will be adding his name to a long list of famous ‘old boys, among them Bill Beaumont, Malcolm Phillips, Brian Ashton, Roger Uttley, Tony Richards, Tony Swift, Simon Smith, Steve Bainbridge, Wade Dooley and Mark Preston.

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