John Robins (rugby union)

John Robins
Robins in New Zealand in 1950
Birth nameJohn Denning Robins
Date of birth17 May 1926
Place of birthCardiff[1]
Date of death21 February 2007(2007-02-21) (aged 80)
Place of deathCardiff
SchoolLlandaff Cathedral School
Wellington School
UniversityLoughborough University
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
Coventry
Bradford
Sale
Birkenhead Park
Leicester Tigers
Barbarians
()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1950–1953
1950
 Wales
British Lions
11
5
Pts:0
10

John Denning Robins (17 May 1926 – 21 February 2007) was a Welsh international rugby union player who attained 11 caps for Wales between 1950 and 1953. A prop, he toured New Zealand and Australia with the British and Irish Lions in 1950 and became the first Lions coach, on the 1966 British Lions tour to Australia and New Zealand.

Robins was born in Cardiff. He was educated at Llandaff Cathedral School and Wellington School. He joined the Royal Navy and served in World War II. He played for England in two wartime Services Internationals. He trained as a teacher at Loughborough and returned there as a lecturer before taking up the post of Director of Physical Education and Recreation at Sheffield University and subsequently the same position at University College, Cardiff.

Robins played for Leicester Tigers and was a noted goal-kicker despite being a prop.[2]

  1. ^ John Robins. scrum.com
  2. ^ Terry McNeill (11 April 1960). "John Robins kicks 14 of Tigers 17 points, Welsh veteran hits Newport". Leicester Evening Mail. p. 12.