Dave Robinson (rugby league)

David Robinson (1 August 1944 – 29 September 2022)^[3] was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Lancashire, and at club level for Swinton and Wigan, as a second-row or loose forward.^[1]

Dave Robinson

Personal information
Full name	David Robinson
Born	(1944-08-01)1 August 1944 Swinton, Lancashire, England
Died	29 September 2022(2022-09-29) (aged 78)
Playing information
Position	Second-row, Loose forward
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1963–70 Swinton 177[a] 30 96 1970–76 Wigan 143 17 0 0 51 1976–77 Swinton Total 47 0 0 147 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1965–74 Lancashire 9 3 0 0 9 1965 Great Britain U–24 1 0 0 0 0 1968–69 England 2 0 0 0 0 1965–70 Great Britain 13 1 0 0 3
Source: [1][2] Figures aggregate both spells at Swinton

Background

Dave Robinson was a pupil at Moorside Secondary Modern School in his hometown of Swinton, near Manchester.

Playing career

Club career

Robinson signed for Swinton in May 1963, making his first team debut in March 1964 and stayed with the club until January 1970 when he was transferred to Wigan. During this period with Swinton he played loose forward in the 11–2 victory over Leigh in the 1969 Lancashire Cup Final at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 1 November 1969.^[3]

Robinson spent six years at Wigan including appearing in a Challenge Cup final defeat to Castleford in his first season at Wigan and a defeat to St Helens in the Championship Final in the following season. He was part of the team that won the 1973 Lancashire Cup beating Salford 19–9 in the Finalat Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington, on Saturday 13 October 1973.^[4]

In February 1976 Robinson returned to Swinton before retiring from the game in March 1977.^[3]

International honours

Robinson won a cap for England while at Swinton in 1969 against Wales, and won caps for Great Britain while at Swinton in 1965 against New Zealand, in 1966 against France (2 matches), on the 1966 Great Britain Lions tour against Australia (3 matches), New Zealand (2 matches), in 1967 against France (2 matches), Australia (2 matches), and while at Wigan in 1970 against Australia.

References

1. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
2. "Player Summary: Dave Robinson". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
3. "Obituaries:Dave Robinson". Rugby League Journal (81): 38. Winter 2022.
4. "1973-1974 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 13 July 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2012.