He won 13 caps for Wales in the second and back rows and also appeared in all four Tests for the 1955 British & Irish Lions in South Africa. The Lions drew that series and Robins made more appearances than any other player, 17 out of 24, on what is still remembered as one of the all-time great Lions tours.
While doing his National Service in the Royal Corps of Signals, he played for the Army and for Yorkshire. On his return to Wales he was called-up in controversial circumstances to make his international debut against Scotland at Murrayfield in 1953 after the ‘Big Five’ Welsh selectors decided to drop double Grand Slam winning No 8 and captain, John Gwilliam, in the wake of an 8-3 defeat to England in Cardiff.
Robins played at No 8 on his debut in a game that Wales won 12-3. The following month Gwilliam was restored to the side and Robins had to wait another six matches before picking up his second cap, against France in Cardiff in 1954, this time as a second row partner to Rhys Williams.
He played in seven consecutive matches, helping Wales as an ever-present pack member to share with France the 1955 Five Nations title before then featured in two of the four games in 1956 as Wales won their 13th title outright. His performances in 1955 earned him his placed on the Lions tour.
His final appearance for Wales came in the Welsh win in Paris in 1957. In February, 1959, he switched codes and joined Leeds RLFC in a move that netted him a £2,000 transfer fee.
At the time the then 27-year-old said: “I’m out of a job and must think about my future. It is this more than anything else that has influenced my decision.” He had previously worked for the NCB and a firm of brewers.
The Pontypridd secretary, Des Jones, was fulsome in his praise of Robins after learning the news of his departure.
“We are very sorry to lose such a great player. We will hold nothing against him for he has been a great club man and a most loyal player. By refusing to leave Pontypridd before, he has brought great honour to the club by playing for Wales and the Lions,” said Jones.
He scored a try on his debut in rugby league and was at Leeds when they won their first Championship title in the 1960-61 season, coached by Welshman Roy Francis and playing alongside the great Lewis Jones.
The Welsh Rugby Union would like to pass on sincere condolences to the family of Russell Robins and all his friends.
Russell John Robins: Born: 21 February, 1932 in Pontypridd; Died: 27 September, 2019. 13 caps for Wales and four tests for the British & Irish Lions
