Rugby - Falcons swoop to sign Robinson on two-year deal (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Rugby - Falcons swoop to sign Robinson on two-year deal

6:10pm Thursday 30th June 2011 in Sport

KENDAL rugby union player Joe Robinson has been signed up by top Premiership club Newcastle Falcons.

Joe, aged 18, is described on the Falcons club website as an “exciting England under-18 prospect.” He plays second row, blindside wing forward or No8.

The 6 ft. 5 in. 17-stoner has been given a two-year contract, which includes housing on the exclusive Darras Hall estate near Newcastle Airport, where he moves this weekend (Sunday, July 3).

He joins the 34-strong main Premiership squad but will play in the A league team and be loaned to local clubs like Blaydon and Tynedale until he is big and strong enough to play for the first team and familiar with the club’s style of play.

Joe is Kendal born and bred, with his family living in Oxenholme Road. He attended Heron Hill Primary and Kirkbie Kendal scondary school, where he played for every year team, ending up as captain of the first team in year 11.

He then earned a scholarship to Sedbergh School, one of the leading rugby schools in Britain having produced many England players. Joe has already played for England under-16s and 18s.

He also played for Kirkby Lonsdale and Kendal rugby clubs, breaking into Kendal’s first XV last season.

Joe had also been talking to Northampton, but Newcastle Falcons has close links with Sedbergh School, inviting pupils to train on Tyneside at its junior academy and also sending coaches to the school.

“I want to go as far as I can with rugby, whether it is with Newcastle or other Premiership clubs. This is a really exciting move and I am really looking forward to it,” he said.

Joe is following in the tracks of fellow Kendal born and bred player Mark Wilson who is already on the books of Newcastle Falcons.

Falcons head coach Alan Tait has backed Robinson to step up to the mark.

“I first watched him playing for Sedbergh School against Royal Grammar School in Newcastle, and I really liked what I was seeing.

“It is early days because he is only 18, but we can get him into the professional environment now and then look to bring him on.

“In a couple of years’ time he will be pushing hard for first-team selection if he continues to develop, and the A-team rugby will be a good step up for him in the short term.

“We will likely loan him out to Blaydon or Tynedale at first, and I’m sure he will benefit from that.”

The Scot remains open-minded about Robinson’s playing position in the short term, but believes that a back-row berth could be his eventual destination.

“Joe has played in both the second and back rows, but I like the look of him as a No 8 or blindside flanker,” he said.

“He is that kind of shape, but there is a lot of growing to be done so we will have to wait and see how he comes on.”