Robinson’s ‘vision and confidence’ set to thrive in surprise England role
After concussion ended his playing career, the young coach was turning heads long before Eddie Jones spotted his talents
Ed Robinson was just 19 when his rugby playing career ended. Representing Loughborough University against Nottingham Trent, he was knocked out when his head was accidentally hit by a flying knee.
Dave Morris, the Loughborough head coach at the time, accompanied Robinson to a Nottingham hospital where he spent hours in the waiting room. “It was really grim,” Morris recalls.
Robinson, who harboured ambitions of playing professionally, never recovered from that last concussion, one of many he suffered. Every time he attempted to return, he suffered acute symptoms.
Yet where one door closed, another opened with Robinson, now 27, devoting himself to a coaching path that has led to his unlikely appointment as interim England skills coach. He had already assisted his father Andy, the former England and Scotland coach, with a spot of analysis and immediately came to Morris with a proposal.
“He presented a vision of what the analysis dept should look like both in terms of software and hardware,” Morris said. “If I could sum him up in one word, it would be proactive. Obviously finishing playing was very hard to take but he really threw himself into analysis and coaching the third XV. You could just tell he had the respect of the lads. He just loves the game and is a real deep thinker.
“He will relish the opportunity to go into that England environment to learn and to push himself. He has very strong thoughts about how he can make people better. He will approach that with a strong vision and confidence.”
From Loughborough, Robinson headed west to coach at Clifton and Filton College. Then a role of assistant coach emerged at Rotherham Titans – a Championship club but destined for relegation in a doomed season.
Where others would tiptoe, Robinson jumped. His arrival did not reverse Rotherham’s slump but he did come to the attention of Jersey Reds head coach Harvey Biljon. In 2018, Robinson was appointed to Jersey’s coaching team where he works alongside Rob Webber, the former England hooker.
“He took a big risk in going out to Rotherham when they were struggling and getting relegated,” Biljon said. “That’s where I identified him and recognised his talent. We had a chat after the game when we played them and subsequently kept talking. Just like we identify players with the raw materials to go onwards and upwards, we identified him as a young coach who needed to earn his spurs to develop. I think over the last 18 months or so he has made huge strides and become a very important part in our coaching set up.
“It goes without saying for someone so young the energy and enthusiasm he brings to coaching. What stands out for me is also detail and work ethic. I think he will embrace the challenge (of England). I am sure he will be guided but also want to put his own flavour on things. He is happy to present his own ideas.”
In a 2016 newspaper interview, Robinson revealed he would experience headaches and nausea during moderate exercise because of his concussions. Even now, he still suffers symptoms, but he has not let his condition define him. “He knows how to manage it well and looks after himself so it does not interfere with any of his work,” Biljon said.
A chance encounter with England head coach Eddie Jones at a dinner last year has blossomed into a fruitful relationship. Entirely off his own back, Jones has acted as mentor to Robinson. After skills coach Jason Ryles confirmed that he was going to miss the Six Nations, Jones and Conor O’shea, the Rugby Football Union director of performance rugby, immediately contacted Jersey about Robinson’s availability.
Biljon was only too happy to grant his blessing, although at a time when the Championship’s future is at stake he is quick to make the point that six former players featured in last year’s Six Nations.
“There’s an amazing amount of young English talent but they need to play rugby and the Championship is the best place for them to play if they can’t get week in, week out rugby in the Premiership,” Biljon said. “Ed is a perfect example that it is not just players who benefit. The Championship is a fantastic place to learn and lay a foundation for where you want to go in the future.”