Richard Andrew Robinson OBE (born 3 April 1964) is an English rugby union coach and retired player. He was the director of rugby at Bristol until November 2016. He is the former head coach of Scotland and England. From September 2019 to December 2022, he was the head coach of the Romanian national team.
Robinson played as an openside flanker for Bath, England and the British & Irish Lions. He was head coach of England from October 2004 until November 2006, then coach of Edinburgh Rugby and joint coach of Scotland A between October 2007 and June 2009. On 4 June 2009 Robinson was named the new head coach of Scotland. He resigned on 25 November 2012 following a 21–15 defeat at home against Tonga.
Playing career
Born in Taunton, Somerset, Robinson made his England debut against Australia on 12 June 1988, and gained eight caps, playing his last match on 18 November 1995 against South Africa. Robinson was quite small for a back row forward, being only 5 ft 9in (1.75 m), and weighing 13 st 12 lb (88 kg). He played 6 non-international games for the British & Irish Lions on their 1989 tour of Australia.
Teaching Whilst playing for Bath, Robinson taught mathematics, physical education and rugby at Writhlington School, King Edward's School, Bath and later Colston's Collegiate School in Bristol, where he and Alan Martinovic masterminded the school's Daily Mail Cup wins in 1995 and 1996. 'Robbo' then left to play rugby professionally with Bath.
Coaching Robinson later coached Bath before being appointed forwards coach of England and was deputy to Clive Woodward with the World Cup-winning England side in 2003. When Woodward resigned from the role of England coach in September 2004, Robinson was named as acting coach before being confirmed in the position. He was also a coach on the Lions tours to Australia in 2001 and New Zealand in 2005.
Robinson won just nine of his twenty two matches in charge of England. In November 2006, it was confirmed that Robinson would remain head coach with the position reviewed after the two tests against South Africa. Defeat in the second test increased demands from supporters that he should be replaced. On 29 November his resignation as head coach was announced, with Robinson blaming his lack of support from the RFU.
International matches as head coach with England Note: World Rankings Column shows the World Ranking England was placed at on the following Monday after each of their matches Matches (2004–2006)MatchesDateOppositionVenueScore(Eng.–Opponent)CompetitionCaptainWorld Rank20041 13 November Twickenham, London70–0Autumn internationalsJason Robinson3rd2 20 November 32–162nd3 27 November 19–212nd20054 5 February Millennium Stadium, Cardiff9–11Six NationsJason Robinson3rd5 13 February Twickenham, London17–184th6 27 February Lansdowne Road, Dublin13–196th7 12 March Twickenham, London39–7Martin Corry6th8 19 March 43–226th9 12 November 26–16Autumn internationals5th10 19 November 19–234th11 26 November 40–35th200612 4 February Twickenham, London47–13Six NationsMartin Corry5th13 11 February Stadio Flaminio, Rome31–163rd14 25 February Murrayfield, Edinburgh12–184th15 12 March Stade de France, Paris6–315th16 18 March Twickenham, London24–285th17 11 June Stadium Australia, Sydney3–34Australia test seriesPat Sanderson6th18 17 June Docklands Stadium, Melbourne18–436th19 5 November Twickenham, London20–41Autumn internationalsMartin Corry6th20 11 November 18–256th21 18 November23–217th22 25 November14–256th
Record by country Opponent Played Won Drawn Lost Win ratio (%) For Against || 18 || 25 || 66 || 114 || 70 || 0 || 23 || 49 || 37 || 47 || 70 || 23 || 39 || 64 || 40 || 3 || 55 || 40 || 69 || 62 || 56 || 24 TOTAL 543 451
In the summer of 2007, the Scottish Rugby Union appointed Robinson the new head coach of Edinburgh Rugby, as well as joint coach of Scotland A with Glasgow coach Sean Lineen. In his first season as coach, he guided Edinburgh to the highest ever finish by a Scottish side at that time in the Celtic League (joint 3rd), despite numerous international players leaving the previous summer for more lucrative contracts in England and France. The following season (2008–09) Edinburgh leap-frogged Leinster and the Ospreys on the final day of the competition to finish runners-up behind Munster. Edinburgh also finished highest points scorers. He stepped down in June 2009 to take up the role of head coach of Scotland, replacing Frank Hadden. Although his time as Scotland coach included a 2–0 series win in Argentina and home wins over Australia and South Africa – the latter advancing Scotland to a record sixth place in the world rankings – his stint ended after a string of disappointing results, culminating in defeat by Tonga on 24 November 2012 which was followed a day later by his resignation.
International matches as head coach with Scotland Matches (2009–2012)MatchesDateOppositionVenueScore(Sco.–Opponent)CompetitionCaptain2009114 NovemberMurrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh23–10Autumn internationalsChris Cusiter221 NovemberMurrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh9–8328 NovemberMurrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh6–9201047 FebruaryMurrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh9–18Six NationsChris Cusiter513 FebruaryMillennium Stadium, Cardiff24–31627 FebruaryStadio Flaminio, Rome12–16713 MarchMurrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh15–15820 MarchCroke Park, Dublin23–20912 JuneEstadio José Fierro, Tucumán24–16Summer TourAlastair Kellock1019 JuneJosé María Minella, Mar del Plata13–91113 NovemberMurrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh3–49Autumn InternationalsMike Blair1220 NovemberMurrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh21–17Rory Lawson1327 NovemberPittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen19–162011145 FebruaryStade de France, Paris21–34Six NationsAlastair Kellock1512 FebruaryMurrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh6–241627 FebruaryMurrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh18–211713 MarchTwickenham Stadium, London16–221819 MarchMurrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh21–8196 AugustMurrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh10–62011 RWC warm-upsRory Lawson2020 AugustMurrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh23–12Alastair Kellock2110 SeptemberRugby Park Stadium, Invercargill34–242011 Rugby World CupAlastair Kellock2214 SeptemberRugby Park Stadium, Invercargill15–6Rory Lawson2325 SeptemberWellington Regional Stadium, Wellington12–13241 OctoberEden Park, Auckland12–16Alastair Kellock2012254 FebruaryMurrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh6–13Six NationsRoss Ford2612 FebruaryMillennium Stadium, Cardiff13–272726 FebruaryMurrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh17–232810 MarchAviva Stadium, Dublin14–322917 MarchStadio Olimpico, Italy6–13305 JuneHunter Stadium, Newcastle9–6Summer TourRoss Ford3116 JuneChurchill Park, Lautoka37–253223 JuneApia Park, Apia17–163311 NovemberMurrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh22–51Autumn InternationalsKelly Brown3417 NovemberMurrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh10–213524 NovemberPittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen15–21
Record by country Opponent Played Won Drawn Lost Win ratio (%) For Against || 55 || 50 || 18 || 14 || 49 || 66 || 60 || 35 || 47 || 75 || 15 || 6 || 67 || 79 || 62 || 49 || 25 || 100 || 34 || 24 || 36 || 32 || 31 || 38 || 15 || 21 || 43 || 82 TOTAL 469 671
On 18 February 2013 it was announced by Bristol Rugby club that Andy Robinson was joining the club as the new director of rugby and in 2016 Bristol gained promotion to the Aviva Premiership under him.
Personal life Robinson is a vegetarian. He has four children; Olly Robinson who currently plays for the Cardiff Blues; Ed Robinson, who is assistant coach at Jersey Reds; Henry; and one daughter, Charlotte Robinson.
Robinson attended Loughborough University between 1982 and 1986. He received a BSc in Physical Education and Sports Science in 1985 and then PGCE the following year.
Career record
Record as England player: Games played 8, Won 4, Lost 3, Drawn 1; 1 try (vs France)
Record as England head coach: Games coached 22, Won 9, Lost 13, Drawn: 0 Biggest Win: Canada 70–0 (November 2004) Biggest Loss (home or away): Australia 34–3 (June 2006) Biggest Loss (home): New Zealand 20–41 (November 2006)
Record as Scotland head coach: Games coached 35, Won 15, Lost 19, Drawn 1
References
External links Planet-rugby stats Sporting Heroes