John Robins (rugby union)

John Robins

Robins in New Zealand in 1950
Birth name	John Denning Robins
Date of birth	17 May 1926
Place of birth	Cardiff
Date of death	21 February 2007(2007-02-21) (aged 80)
Place of death	Cardiff
School	Llandaff Cathedral School Wellington School
University	Loughborough University
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) Coventry () – Bradford () – Sale () – Birkenhead Park () – Leicester Tigers () – Barbarians () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1950–1953 Wales 11 (Pts:0) 1950 British Lions 5 (10)

John Denning Robins (17 May 1926 – 21 February 2007) was a Welsh international rugby union player who attained 11 caps for Wales between 1950 and 1953. A prop, he toured New Zealand and Australia with the British and Irish Lions in 1950 and became the first Lions coach, on the 1966 British Lions tour to Australia and New Zealand.

Robins was born in Cardiff. He was educated at Llandaff Cathedral School and Wellington School. He joined the Royal Navy and served in World War II. He played for England in two wartime Services Internationals. He trained as a teacher at Loughborough and returned there as a lecturer before taking up the post of Director of Physical Education and Recreation at Sheffield University and subsequently the same position at University College, Cardiff.

Robins played for Leicester Tigers and was a noted goal-kicker despite being a prop.