Sarah Rendell takes a weekly look at some important women players
Harlequins flanker Emily Robinson has embraced the rivalry she has had with her sister Flo this season in the Premier 15s.
Scrum-half Flo plays for Exeter Chiefs and the two clubs have both come away with a win in the two matches they have played against each other.
Robinson says: “That was a game I was really looking forward to as soon as I knew the fixtures and who we were playing and when. There was a lot of rubbish chat from her in the family group leading up to it!
“We're both super competitive. It's funny because we've got an older brother who's a rugby player as well [Worthing Raiders' Will Robinson] and I'm probably more competitive with him than I am with Flo.
“On game day even if she's your sister, you're going to do whatever it takes and you want to win. I like Exeter as a team as well so it's been interesting following their journey a little bit, really nice to see Flo succeed in the environment as well.”
While Exeter just missed out on a semifinal spot, Robinson's Quins have again put themselves in the top four. The 20-year old says securing the spot is sweeter this season due to the heightened competition.
“We have definitely had some challenges this season,” she says. “We lost against Loughborough and Exeter and I think that's sometimes really important. No disrespect to teams last season but I think some games were quite predictable
“That can be a negative thing in terms of performance and trying to improve the team. This year, having a lot more competition and games being so much closer, I think it's a really good thing. Although we have lost some games we have learnt really well from that.”
Robinson, who is a carpenter away from rugby, has had more game time with Quins this season which saw her bag a place in England's Women's Six Nations training camps. An injury in a league match thoughdamaged her hopes.
She says: “I was in all the camps in the lead up, eight to ten weeks, and then I hurt my knee in a Sarries game. I went to Doncaster, I was in the training squad for the Italy game and I got sent home on the second day and I haven't been back in which is a bit disappointing.”
