A
product of Sedgley Park (Manchester) Mini & Juniors, and Sedbergh School,
Rob joined the Cornish Pirates from Gloucester in the summer of 2007.
With
Mefin Davies and Olivier Azam having provided opposition for the number two jersey
at Kingsholm, his first team appearances had been limited. He had a loan spell
at Pertemps Bees during the 2006-07 season, his move to the Cornish Pirates seen
as a positive one which should see him develop still further as a player.
Mark
Hewitt, assistant coach at the Cornish Pirates and who worked with Rob during
his time at Gloucester, described Rob as "an exceptional young player who
will be an exciting addition to our squad."
Rob
was born in Rinteln, Germany, on a British Army base. His dad, Kevin, was in the
Royal Engineers, representing his corps at rugby, besides also being a good squash
and badminton player. He also coached at Sedgley Park with Trevor Albinson and
Bob Walters.
Introduced
to the game of rugby by his father, Rob then went to Sedbergh School, a prestigious
educational establishment which has produced many fine rugby players over the
years, including such as former England captain Will Carling, Will Greenwood and
James Simpson-Daniel. Rob was there at the same time as James Hoyle, who now plays
Newcastle Falcons, and he was in the same England 18 Group side as Tom Rees, Will
Skinner, Luke Narraway, Mark Foster and Tom French.
Highlights
to date for Rob include playing for Gloucester in a win under lights against Leicester,
and playing a role in matches that led to Gloucester winning the European Challenge
Cup in 2006.
As for
his rugby ambition - it is simply to be successful with the Cornish Pirates, and
hopefully play for them in the Premiership!
