Rob Hardwick

Robin John Kieren Hardwick (born (1969-03-29) 29 March 1969 (age 56)) 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

A 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]