Robin John Kieren Hardwick (born 29 March 1969) is a former England international rugby union footballer who also captained and played 149 matches for Coventry and played 167 games for London Irish as a prop.[1][2]
Biography
editA prop, Hardwick started his senior career with his home town club Coventry.[2] The 1996-97 season, would be Coventry's most successful of the modern era, coming within touching distance of the Premiership. Along the way, with Hardwick as Captain,[3] they beat a Newcastle Falcons side featuring 15 internationals by 19-18 at Coundon Road.[4] They would eventually finish third behind the well- funded Newcastle and champions Richmond but lost a promotion play-off against London Irish despite taking a narrow first leg advantage to Sunbury. Despite their second-tier status, both Hardwick and Danny Grewcock were capped by England in this era.
Hardwick's only England appearance came as a replacement against Italy during the 1996 Five Nations.[1] He also represented England 'A' 20 times and played 3 times for the Barbarians.[5]
He went on to play 167 games for London Irish where he was part of the team that won the Powergen Cup (LV=Cup) in 2002.[2] He also spent one season in France playing for La Rochelle, making 27 appearances for them.[6]
References
edit- ^ a b "Rob Hardwick - Rugby Union - Players and Officials - ESPN Scrum". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
- ^ a b c "london-irish.co.uk • View topic - Interview with Rob Hardwick". london-irish.co.uk. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
- ^ "Courage Clubs' Championship National League 1". The Independent. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
- ^ "Newcastle undone". The Independent. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
- ^ "Rugby Union - Hardwick becomes coach at Luton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
- ^ "Rugby Union - English - Hardwick in line for Bees debut". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
External links
edit- Rob Hardwick at ESPNscrum