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19 of the best tributes to Chris Robshaw, featuring Owens, Carling, Leonard and many more
Teammates and opponents of Harlequins flanker Chris Robshaw have paid tribute to him after he played his final home match at The Stoop on Monday. The 34-year-old ex-England captain was appearing in his 299th game for the London club before his move to Major League Rugby’s San Diego Legion.
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Unfortunately for the 16-year Harlequins veteran, his side could not get the win over Gallagher Premiership high flyers Wasps. However, as a player whose career has been defined by his attitude and consistency, it was no surprise to anyone in England that it was a typically industrious performance by Robshaw, marked by his work at the breakdown.
Following the match, Harlequins greats from past and present eulogised the 66-cap international, recognising his commitment to club and country. England’s most capped player and former Harlequins prop, Jason Leonard said: “One of the most hard-working and honest players in our game, Chris Robshaw will be sorely missed.”
Former No8 Nick Easter described him as an “exceptional man, player and captain. True icon of the club”, while Will Carling, the former England captain and Harlequins centre, said: “Work ethic, loyalty, decency and resilience. He has been through some tough times, with dignity, but deserves to be remembered by England and Quins fans as one of the truly good guys.”
Quins legend and former All Black Nick Evans said his former teammate was “one of the greats! Honoured to have pulled the Harlequins jersey on with him.” Test centurion Adam Jones also said: “What a great man and a great player. Didn’t know how good he was until I saw it at Quins. Exceptional.”
End of an era ? https://t.co/cojQdvXeMH
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 29, 2020
These are just some of the reams of tributes that were paid to Robshaw, who has the second-most appearances as England captain (43) behind Carling (59). Many have pointed out the highs and lows in his career, with England’s 2015 World Cup exit being a standout trough.
But it is how he responded to that disappointment that has defined his career as much as anything else, which many of his teammates and fans recognise. Robshaw still has a final chance to make 300 appearances for Quins when they travel to Welford Road this Sunday to take on Leicester Tigers in their final outing of the 2019/20 Premiership season.
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One of the most hard working & honest players in our game @ChrisRobshaw will be sorely missed @Harlequins
Privilege for me as a fellow Quin to present him with his 50th @EnglandRugby cap
Good Luck in San Diego pic.twitter.com/l37rcFP6sW— Jason Leonard (@JasonLeonard114) September 29, 2020
Exceptional man, player and captain. Pity the current situation prevented a proper send off but he will b revered even more so now. The true icon of the club.
— Nick Easter (@nick_easter) September 29, 2020
So tonight Quins say goodbye to one of their most loyal and successful players @ChrisRobshaw. Work ethic, loyalty, decency & resilience. He has been through some tough times, with dignity, but deserves to be remembered by England & Quins fans as one of the truly good guys
— Will Carling (@willcarling) September 28, 2020
One of the greats!!! Honoured to have pulled the @Harlequins jersey on with him ?? https://t.co/KLMhTIwcC9
— Nick Evans (@nick10evans) September 29, 2020
What a great man and a great player. Didn’t know how good he was until I saw it at Quins. Exceptional
— Adam Jones (@adamjones3) September 29, 2020
https://twitter.com/JHorwill/status/1310862107475357696?s=20
This guy. What can you say. Class on the field. Class off it. Leader and a legend ?? https://t.co/iGrLjaGsTq
— Mark Lambert (@marklambert3) September 28, 2020
The ? ?? @ChrisRobshaw https://t.co/zNXdJhPvrz
— Danny Care (@dannycare) September 28, 2020
“Cheers Robbo” ???? @ChrisRobshaw pic.twitter.com/FoJaML891u
— Ugo Monye (@ugomonye) September 29, 2020
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“O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done.” @ChrisRobshaw @Harlequins pic.twitter.com/3fjnpYgOsv
— Joe Marler (@JoeMarler) September 28, 2020
With and against, through the great times and the tough times it’s been an absolute pleasure Robbo. Great bloke, player, role model and ambassador for the game. Congrats and best of luck to you and @CamillaKerslake stateside ??? @ChrisRobshaw @bvunipola @Ben_J_Morgan8 pic.twitter.com/bBFGx5MV9t
— Tom Wood (@tomwood678) September 29, 2020
Congrats on an amazing career with @Harlequins & @EnglandRugby @ChrisRobshaw !
Thoroughly enjoyed our time together, wearing the rose!
And many great encounters against you, in the London Derbies!
Enjoy California, you deserve it!
— Brad Barritt (@bradbarritt) September 29, 2020
Glad I can tell my kids that I’ve played with one of the greats. @ChrisRobshaw @Harlequins https://t.co/LBmDNjFiBs
— Ben Tapuai (@benny_taps) September 28, 2020
Honour to be here at The Stoop to witness @chrisrobshawrugby last outing at home. One of @Harlequins most loyal, successful and loved stars, wishing you all the best for your time in San Diego ???#COYQ https://t.co/UKih3bebMg
— Sean Fitzpatrick (@SFitzpatrick92) September 28, 2020
A wonderful player and even a better man. Always a pleasure to referee and thanks for all you have done outside the rugby field too. Best wishes for the future “ ah Christopher “ ? https://t.co/EhnFZttihx
— Nigel Owens MBE (@Nigelrefowens) September 28, 2020
LEGEND! @Harlequins pic.twitter.com/OnZ823Z4jp
— James Johnston (@JayVJohnston) September 28, 2020
https://twitter.com/jerryflannery/status/1310701894520762378?s=20
One hell of a player, but am even better human being. Congrats on a fantastic career @Harlequins @ChrisRobshaw Massive good luck to you and @CamillaKerslake on your next adventure ?? https://t.co/kAkuqwPAeM
— Ollie Phillips (@OlliePhillips11) September 29, 2020
https://www.instagram.com/p/CFtzyhmg9Wt/?igshid=9txulozoe4nr
Comments on RugbyPass
We had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getitng to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
7 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
7 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
7 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to comments