Dan Robson

Dan Robson
Robson playing for Wasps in 2018
Birth nameDaniel John Robson[1]
Date of birth (1992-03-14) 14 March 1992 (age 32)
Place of birthStoke-on-Trent, England
Height1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Weight82 kg (12 st 13 lb; 181 lb)
SchoolNewcastle-under-Lyme School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrum-half
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010–2015
2010–2011
2015–2022
2022–		 Gloucester
→ Moseley (loan)
Wasps
Pau		 80
6
150
17		 (50)
(5)
(193)
(5)
Correct as of 24 May 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011–2012
2014–
2019–		 England U20
England Saxons
England		 19
3
14		 (20)
(5)
(10)
Correct as of 10 July 2021

Dan Robson (born 14 March 1992) is an English professional rugby union player for Pau in the French Top 14.

Personal life

Born in Stoke-on-Trent,[1] Robson attended Newcastle-under-Lyme School.[2] His father was also a rugby player for Moseley and was on the bench in five different games for England without winning a cap.[3]

Since the age of about 18 years old he has had the nickname of 'Dobby', named after the character in the Harry Potter film series. He was given this during his time playing for Gloucester Rugby and acquired this during the 'Milk Challenge'. The milk challenge is an initiation for new signings and graduates from the player academy and involves drinking 8 pinks of milk in 20 minutes. Whilst undertaking this challenge, he vomited and apparently "looked like Dobby the house elf". On his move to Wasps Rugby he thought that he had 'gotten away with' no longer being called this as some of his new teammates did not know him by this name. However he feels that it was probably James Haskell who was responsible for the persistence of the nickname. He states that he has since "embraced" this and considers it "part of me".[4]

Club career

Robson first played rugby for his local club as a five-year-old and later had a season of men's rugby at Longton Rugby Club.[5] He began his senior career with Gloucester in 2010[6] and in April 2013 it was announced that he had signed a two-year contract extension to keep him at the club until the end of the 2014–15 season.[7] In his final season at the club Robson was on the bench for Gloucester as they defeated Edinburgh in the final of the European Rugby Challenge Cup.[8]

On 8 January 2015 it was announced that Robson would leave Gloucester at the end of the season to join Wasps on a long-term deal.[6] Robson started for the Wasps side that lost to Exeter Chiefs in the Premiership finals of 2017[9] and 2019.[10]

Wasps entered administration on 17 October 2022 and Robson was made redundant along with all other players and coaching staff.[11] Following his release from Wasps, Robson signed for French side Pau in the Top 14 for the remainder of the 2022–23 season.[12]

International career

Robson was a member of the England under-20 team that achieved a grand slam in the 2011 Six Nations Under 20s Championship[13][14] and later that year was part of the squad that finished runners up to New Zealand at the 2011 IRB Junior World Championship.[15][6] The following year saw Robson score a try against Ireland in the 2012 Six Nations Under 20s Championship as England retained their title[16] and he was also a member of the squad that finished seventh at the 2012 IRB Junior World Championship.[17]

On 31 January 2014, Robson made his debut for England Saxons when they drew 16–16 against Scotland A in an international friendly.[18] Robson was selected for the England squad to face the Barbarians in the summer of 2014[19] and on 1 June 2014 Robson made his debut for England in a non-cap friendly, losing to the Barbarians 39–29 at Twickenham Stadium.[20] In June 2016 Robson scored a try for the England Saxons as they defeated South Africa A at Free State Stadium.[21]

Robson was called up to the senior England squad by coach Eddie Jones on 1 August 2016 for a pre-season training squad.[22] On 30 September 2016 he was subsequently named in the Test squad for the Autumn Internationals, however he remained an unused substitute.[23] On 10 February 2019, Robson made his international test debut as a replacement for Ben Youngs against France in the 2019 Six Nations Championship[24] and later during the tournament he also scored his first try in a game against Italy.[25]

In November 2020 Robson scored another try against Georgia in their opening game of the Autumn Nations Cup[26] and also came off the bench in the final of the competition as England defeated France in extra-time to win the tournament.[27]

International tries

As of 14 November 2020.[1]
Try Opposing team Location Venue Competition Date Result Score
1  Italy London, England Twickenham Stadium 2019 Six Nations 9 March 2019 Win 57 – 14[25]
2  Georgia London, England Twickenham Stadium Autumn Nations Cup 14 November 2020 Win 40 – 0[26]

References

  1. ^ a b c "ESPN profile". ESPN. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  2. ^ Smith, Peter (18 May 2019). "Newcastle's England scrum half Dan Robson opens up on DVT nightmare". The Sentinel. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  3. ^ Bridge, Bobby (7 March 2019). "Why Dan Robson's dad feared history was repeating itself after England near misses". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  4. ^ "Six Nations: A Covid crisis, Dobby and Danny's shiner". BBC. 23 February 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  5. ^ Smith, Peter (17 January 2019). "Ex-Stoke and Longton starlet in England Six Nations training squad". The Sentinel. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  6. ^ a b c "Premiership: Wasps sign Dan Robson from Gloucester". Sky Sports. 8 January 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  7. ^ "Gloucester: Nick Wood among nine to agree new contract". BBC Sport. 2 April 2013. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  8. ^ Mitchell, Brendon (1 May 2015). "European Challenge Cup final: Edinburgh 13-19 Gloucester". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  9. ^ Law, James (27 May 2017). "Premiership final: Wasps 20-23 Exeter Chiefs (aet)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  10. ^ Pilnick, Brent (24 October 2020). "Premiership Final: Exeter beat Wasps 19-13 to secure historic double". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  11. ^ Bridge, Bobby (17 October 2022). "Wasps' administration confirmed as 167 employees made redundant". CoventryLive. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  12. ^ "Top 14 : Dan Robson, ancien demi de mêlée des Wasps, débarque à Pau". Le Figaro.fr (in French). 15 November 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  13. ^ "England Under-20 74-3 Italy Under-20". BBC Sport. 12 February 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  14. ^ "Ford drives England to overall glory". The Irish Times. 19 March 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  15. ^ Mole, Giles (18 January 2019). "Dan Robson joins the club: How 2011 world junior final between England and New Zealand spawned 27 Test stars". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  16. ^ "Ireland beaten all ends up". The Irish Times. 16 March 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  17. ^ "England name strong squad". Sky Sports. 2 May 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  18. ^ "England Saxons and Scotland A play out draw in Glasgow". Sky Sports. 31 January 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  19. ^ "Mike Brown: Harlequins full-back one of 21 added by England". BBC Sport. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  20. ^ "Barbarians take it up a gear". ESPN. 1 June 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  21. ^ "England Saxons beat South Africa A in opening tour match". BBC Sport. 10 June 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  22. ^ Jones, Chris (1 August 2016). "England squad: Nathan Hughes in, Danny Cipriani and Chris Ashton out". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  23. ^ Jones, Chris (30 September 2016). "England Rugby: Eddie Jones calls up seven uncapped players". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  24. ^ Bridge, Bobby (10 February 2019). "Did Eddie Jones leave it too late to bring on Dan Robson for England against France?". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  25. ^ a b Fordyce, Tom (9 March 2019). "England 57-14 Italy: Eight-try England keep Six Nation title hopes alive". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  26. ^ a b Grey, Becky (14 November 2020). "England 40-0 Georgia: Jamie George scores hat-trick in six-try victory". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  27. ^ Henson, Mike (6 December 2020). "Autumn Nations Cup: England beat France in sudden death". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 July 2021.