Бывший защитник сборной Англии Робин Ковлинг скончался в возрасте 82 лет

TRIBUTES have been paid to a former England prop who studied at the RAU and who died last month aged 82. Robin Cowling won eight caps for his country between 1977 and 1979 and represented Gloucester and Leicester during his playing career. Cowling studied at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester before joining Gloucester, a team he would play 216 games for between 1967 and 1974. He also joined Exeter as a coach in 1998 and had a spell as interim team manager in 2009 following the sacking of director of rugby Pete Drewett. Paying tribute, a spokesperson for Gloucester Rugby said: “Cowling made his first of 216 Gloucester appearances in 1967 and became a regular prop by 1970-71, earning county recognition for his powerful performances. “He played in Gloucestershire’s County Championship campaign and enjoyed a breakthrough 1971-72 season, helping Gloucester win the first RFU Knock-Out Cup and Gloucestershire claim their first County Championship title since 1937. “A mainstay of the Gloucester pack in the early 1970s, Cowling played more than 50 top-level matches in 1972-73 and also represented Western Counties against the All Blacks. “After moving to Leicester Tigers in 1974, he won eight England caps, represented the Barbarians, and helped Leicester secure three successive John Player Cup victories before retiring in 1981. “Everyone at Gloucester Rugby sends their sincere condolences to Robin’s family and friends at this sad time.” The Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter told the club website: “I cannot express enough how much Robin contributed to the success we have had as a club and to the success some young players, in particular those from Cornwall, have had because of his absolute determination to get the best out of people. “My first experience with Robin was when he would bring young players up from Cornwall to train with the senior group. The amount of time he was prepared to invest in them to give them an opportunity to become professional players was admirable. “Several of those players went on to become internationals and even British and Irish Lions.”