Sharks snap up Robinson at last

Robinson is aiming for a place in the Lions team

Jason Robinson has finally been unveiled as a Sale Sharks player after deciding he had nothing left to prove in rugby league.

The 26-year-old winger has joined the Zurich Premiership One side on a five-year contract and will link up with Apollo Perelini, once of St Helens.

Robinson, who made 302 appearances for Wigan and scored 184 tries, is looking forward to new challenges.

"I've had almost 10 great years at Wigan," he said. "I've enjoyed it so much and I've achieved so much in the game, and I think now is the time to have a new challenge and to see how I go in rugby union.

"I think rugby league is a great game - one of the best games in the world. But I've won every honour in the game, and a rugby career is only a short career so that it's either now or never, and I've chose to do it now."

Money not an issue

Robinson was adamant that his decision was not coloured by financial incentives: "It would have been easy for me to have taken another contract with Wigan.

I've enjoyed it so much - but now is the time to have a new challenge

  Jason Robinson

"Had I stayed there I would have been the highest paid player in the league with a testimonial to come."

And the former Wigan star admitted the chance to play for Clive Woodward's England and the British Lions was tempting - but stressed he would need time to adapt to the different rules of rugby union.

"England and Lions' tours are things that come on the back of playing well week in, week out. My first goal is to make the Sale Sharks team. If I'm good enough to play at a higher level then so be it.

"I have only had four months' union experience and there will be times when I fall."

Sale may not be one of the giants of union, but Robinson had his reasons for choosing them.

"One of the reasons is that I won't have to relocate my family and also I met up with Brian Kennedy the owner of Sale and I was impressed with his vision for the club and I believe that the club can push for major honours."