Born and bred in Yorkshire, he became a professional rugby league player with his hometown, Leeds, while he was still a teenager, before becoming England's first Muslim rugby international in 1995 when he played against Wales in Cardiff.

Since retiring from the sport, he has set up the British Asian Rugby Association (BARA) and become one of the most inspirational Asian role models in the country. And now he's written his autobiography, Tries & Prejudice, which charts his remarkable journey from the back streets of Leeds to Westminster, where he has helped shape government policy on community development in sport.

But why, a decade after hanging up his boots, has he decided to tell his story? "I was interviewed for a book called Asians Can't Play Football in 1996, which was trying to dispel some of the myths about us and sport. But a decade on and little had really changed," he says. "There's very little material out there on Black and Asian role models and hopefully my story will help bring a wider debate."

His book is as much a social commentary on a Muslim family growing up in the north of England during the 1970s and '80s, as it is a sporting biography

Raised in Headingley, a stone's thrown from the famous rugby ground, Ikram is about as Yorkshire as you can get. The second youngest of six children, he was brought up on a street amid the kind of multi-cultural nirvana that we rarely see today, never mind 30 years ago.

"We had an Afro-Caribbean family living opposite and they're still good friends of ours. There was an Irish family at the top of the street and an Italian family across the road. Then there were four Indian brothers who ran a mini- market which was the focal point for the street. Growing up in that environment was a wonderful experience, everyone was very friendly and there always seemed to be a street party going on."

But when Ikram and his brothers stepped outside this comfort zone, it was a different story. "When we went to some places in the city we were subjected to prejudice and racism, which was a shock to begin with. When you live in such a close-knit community like we did, you aren't used to this kind of thing."

For the most part, though, their childhood was a pleasant one and Ikram, along with his older brother, Tony, and younger brother, Innam, showed sporting promise from an early age.

"Because we lived so close to Headingley stadium, you couldn't help but follow rugby league, everyone was always talking about rugby and we wanted to be part of that."

Tony, two years his senior, played rugby at their local school and Ikram followed in his footsteps. "I was about eight or nine when I started playing and I remember playing rugby in the snow one day at primary school, so it's always been part of my life."

This passion for sport, whether it was rugby, football, or cricket, came from his father, Mohammad, who had been a boxer for the Royal Pakistan Air Force. "He loved his sport and on Saturdays when Grandstand came on he didn't move from his armchair and that rubbed off on us. He was a big boxing fan and I remember when I was about eight he shouted at me and my brothers to come down because a Muhammad Ali fight was on the telly."

By the time Ikram was 11, he and Tony were playing rugby league for Leeds Schoolboys. But then tragedy struck when their father, who Ikram still affectionately calls his "champion of champions", died of a heart attack. "It left a huge void but that's what gave me the hunger and desire I needed to succeed. I dreamt of being a famous sportsman, like many kids do, but this gave me focus. It wasn't to fulfil my father's wishes, I just wanted to make him proud."

After his father's death, Ikram continued to thrive on the sports field. He played football alongside David Batty for Leeds Schoolboys as a teenager, but by the age of 15 it was evident that he had a greater flair for rugby. He established himself as one of the most exciting young backs in the country, representing both Yorkshire and Great Britain at under-19 level. He was one of two players offered a scholarship to play in Australia, but then Leeds came in for him. "It had always been my dream to play for my hometown club and when they knocked on my door I couldn't
say no," he says.

But even while playing rugby as a professional he admits he still endured racist abuse. "I was subjected to racism from some
of the players and even the spectators. I was called a Paki so-and-so and things like that. But I think those early experiences meant I knew how to handle it."

But the abuse still hurt. "It's not the same when someone has a go at you for being ginger, or for being fat, because when you persecute somebody for their race and religion that's a massive difference."

Peter Fox, a man he calls "my mentor", brought him to Leeds but was sacked three weeks later, although he would go on to play a pivotal role throughout Ikram's career. The youngster's spell at Leeds proved a frustrating one and at the age of 20 he was reunited with Fox who took him to Featherstone Rovers. He scored on his debut and spent five "great" years there. It was while playing for Featherstone that he was called up to play for England, winning his solitary cap against Wales. "It was one of the greatest moments of my career, but it was quite surreal. I was sitting in the changing room before the game started, looking around at great players like Garry Schofield, Jason Robinson and Paul Newlove, and I just thought 'what an amazing experience'. I only played once for England but I will never forget it."

It proved to be the zenith of his sporting career. Following the creation of the Super League in 1996 he decided to move to the fledgling London Broncos, which proved an unhappy time. Injuries curtailed his appearances on the pitch, while he also spent three months in prison after being convicted of motoring offences in Leeds. "It is an episode that initially I wanted to forget, but it is part of my life experience that can help me relate to kids. It gives me a chance to encourage them not to fall into a similar trap, but if they do how to turn it into a positive change."

After one season he returned north to join Huddersfield Giants, but when they just missed out on promotion he joined Hunslet Hawks, though by now he was looking at future beyond rugby and the following year he called time on his playing career.

Through the Leeds Rugby Foundation and BARA, Ikram now works alongside education organisations, visiting schools to promote sport among Britain's Asian communities, although he believes this is part of a wider social issue.

"There has been a lot of negative publicity surrounding British Asians and there is still a feeling that they, especially the youth, don't feel part of society. It's a two- way street, there is a lot of sorting out to do in their own back yard, but statistics prove they have more barriers to overcome if they want to succeed."

Despite this, he believes in the unifying power of sport. "It can bring people together and help them understand one another. I passionately believe that and I believe, too, that Britain is a great multi-cultural society and long may that continue."

Tries & Prejudice by Ikram Butt, published by Scratching Shed Publishing ltd, is available now priced £12.99. Ikram will be signing copies of his autobiography at Philip Howard Books, 47 Street Lane, Roundhay, Leeds, on Saturday, June 13, at 10am. To order a copy from the Yorkshire Post Bookshop, call free on 0800 0153232 or go online at www.yorkshirepostbookshop.co.uk. Postage and packing is £2.75.