A rampaging back row forward, who was capped by Welsh Schools in 1978, he led the Steelmen for four seasons between 1984-89, including captaining the side when they beat the touring USA Eagles 16-14 on 24 October, 1987.
He joined Ebbw Vale after graduating from Uwic as a PE teacher and was named the club’s Player of the Year in 1984 just before taking over as captain. Former Ebbw Vale back row legend, Phil Gardner, coached Robinson at the club and remembers him as always being “superbly fit, a family man, an outstanding player and a very nice guy.”
After leaving UWIC he first taught PE at Tredegar Comprehensive School and later further down the Sirhowy Valley at Blackwood Comprehensive. He retired in July, 2017 after more than 30 years at Blackwood, where he rose for a time to become Assistant Head.
He was diagnosed with bowel cancer late in 2018 and tragically lost his wife, Diane, to cancer last summer. She was also a teacher at Pen-y-Cwm School, Ebbw Vale.
They had met at Uwic and leave three sons, Greg, 34, Josh 30, and Jonathan, 27. The condolences of the WRU go out to them and other friends and family of Neil.
