Rotherham and Jersey Reds sing praises for Ed Robinson

IT is probably easier to find a Flash Harry in down-to-earth than anyone who has a bad word to say about coaching prodigy Ed Robinson.

's shock new choice as skills coach for the upcoming made a very positive and lasting impression in his first senior professional coaching role at the Titans towards the back end of the 2017/18 season.

Other than perhaps his famous father and brother, ex-England coach Andy Robinson and flanker Ollie, no one took more pleasure on hearing the news that he'd been drafted in to replace Jason Ryles, who is staying in during the pandemic, than the staff at Clifton Lane and at his current employers Jersey.

“I had a big smile on my face and I sent him a message congratulating him straight away,” said Nic Rouse, the former lock who was Robinson's boss at the Titans. “He replied back saying, ‘thanks to the man who started it for me'.”

Robinson moved up north for no reward other than a chance to showcase his skills after Russell Earnshaw, who'd been impressed by his work with Bristol's junior academy and Clifton, put in a call to his former teammate asking him to give the youngster a chance.

Rouse, like Reds DoR Harvey Biljon and now , took the plunge on the then 24-yearold, who was forced to quit playing at 19 due to a complex concussion injury.

Working without pay, Robinson immersed himself into the task of trying to keep Rotherham in the second tier. While that mission ultimately proved unsuccessful, the Titans improved immeasurably in terms of their performance and results in the short time he was at the club.

“At Rotherham we were financially constrained, we didn't have any money to pay anyone. I invited him up to a game and said we'll have a chat to see what you think and you can start on Monday if you are happy,” explained Rouse.

“It was breathtaking, the impact that he made. He was well ahead of anyone his age and a breath of fresh air to work with.

“He was always thinking about ways to challenge the players, both on and off the field, bringing different themes to life. “He got a picture of The Great Escape line-up and replaced the pictures of the characters with the players. He then showed all the great sporting escapes: the story of Medina, Liverpool's win in Istanbul… he has a very creative brain. And straight after that, we won our first game.”

Former fly-half Lee Millar looks back fondly on his time playing under Robinson. “The analysis he did on opposition teams and on us as players, trying to improve us individually and collectively, was second to none,” said the Watsonians playmaker. “It was a bit of tough season for us but he tried to make us more confident in running the ball from anywhere.”

That adventurous spirit was borne out in his first season at Jersey when Agustin Slowik scored a try that started behind his own try line.

Reds boss Biljon had been aware of Robinson's aptitude for skills and back coaching well before then. “After we beat Rotherham, the game which confirmed them going down, Ed asked some really astute questions. And following on from that, I spoke to his dad,” Biljon said.

“You could see his drive, it was clear he wanted to be a very good coach, and I believed he was the right man to bring on board. I've absolutely seen over the last 18 months the impact he has had on our squad.”

If England manage to emulate 's super-try of 2010 against Australia in the next few months, going through multiple hands from their own 22, it will have Robinson's imprint all over it.