There was a familiar face back on duty at the Arms Park on the weekend. Early into the second half of Cardiff RFC’s pre-season friendly against Henley Hawks, the moment came for Olly Robinson to return to his old stomping ground.
Wearing his trademark scrum-cap, he showed his quality from the outset as he helped the Blue & Blacks turn around a 21-7 half-time deficit to win 48-28. What made the occasion all the more special for him was that his five-month-old son Albie was in the crowd with family.
The openside flanker has returned to the Welsh capital after spending the second half of last season out on loan at English champions Leicester. Now 31, he remains contracted to the region for another year, but opportunities are likely to be limited at first team level given the back row riches at Dai Young’s disposal. So it’s with the semi-pro Premiership side - The Rags - that he has begun his latest playing spell at the Arms Park.
Having come on board from Bristol in 2014, Robinson was to establish himself as a regular presence in the Cardiff Blues back row over the next few years, with his work over the ball and his tackle count consistently catching the eye and making him a real fan's favourite.
What was also noticeable was how he was the absolute spitting image of his father, Andy, the former Bath, England and Lions flanker, who has coached both England and Scotland.
The high point of Olly’s time with the Cardiff region came in May 2018 when he was named Man of the Match in the memorable European Challenge Cup final victory over Gloucester in Bilbao. In all, he has made 80 appearances for them, scoring nine tries, but last season he found himself falling out of the reckoning amid the intense competition for back row places.
He made just the one appearance and that was in the Champions Cup game against Toulouse last December when the bulk of the first team squad were unavailable through being in Covid isolation after the ill-fated trip to South Africa.
The following month, the Bristol-born Robinson went out on loan to Leicester for the remainder of the campaign, making seven appearances for the Tigers in all. It was thought another loan deal may be sorted out for this season, but as yet nothing has transpired.
Breaking back into the first team set up is going to be a challenge for him, given the back row roster. In his preferred openside berth, he will be up against Ellis Jenkins and the returning Thomas Young, with versatile fellow Welsh internationals Josh Navidi and Jim Botham other options at No 7, along with youngsters Gwilym Bradley and Alex Mann. The star-studded breakaway roster also features new signing Taulupe Faletau, plus Josh Turnbull, Shane Lewis-Hughes and James Ratti.
It may look over-stocked, but Dai Young has made the point that he is yet to have all of his back rowers available at the same time due to injury or international calls, so needs such strength-in-depth. What it does mean is it’s going to be hard for Robinson to force his way into the picture, so for now he’s stepping out with Cardiff RFC.
They will be delighted to have him available as he remains a classy performer, something he confirmed against Henley. He won a crucial turnover on his own line just as the visitors were pressing hard for a score and then hit a great line ahead of a try as the Premiership champions took charge. The old man did his watching son proud!
After the game, Robinson’s mother posted a lovely picture of her holding Albie in the crowd, alongside one of her with a baby Olly from 1992 when they were watching Andy play for Bath!
As for the details of Saturday’s game, there were two tries apiece for ageless fly-half Dan Fish, full-back Joe Goodchild and scrum-half Joe Williams amid the turnaround against the English visitors, who are in National 2 East alongside the likes of Blackheath, Barnes, Dorking and Sevenoaks.
Cardiff now host Paul Turner’s Ampthill next Friday evening (7.30pm) and then open their Premiership campaign when they travel to Sardis Road on Saturday, September 3 (5.30pm) to take on Pontypridd.
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