England Player Profiles

Chris Robshaw

Key Facts

Squad	Harlequins
Position	Back row
Age	25
Height	1.88m (6'2")
Weight	110kg (17st 4lb)
Caps	6
Twitter	@ChrisRobshaw

A triumphant start as England’s captain illustrated the credentials of Chris Robshaw, who led his side to four victories in five matches during the 2012 RBS 6 Nations Championship. Three of the victories were away from Twickenham and the fourth was the 30-9 win over Ireland at HQ.

An irresistible personal and team performance in the 24-22 win over France in Paris had followed the defeats of Scotland and Italy on alien soil. He had won his first cap against Argentina at Salta almost three years earlier.

He was the mainstay of the Harlequins’ pack three seasons ago, appeared in all 22 league matches and was on the field the seventh biggest number of minutes (1,606) of any player in the Premiership.

Chris also made 226 tackles, the competition’s second highest in the season. His contribution helped Harlequins to second place in the table, their best finish to date. He has been called the ‘new Richard Hill’ because as well as having a high work rate, he shows true class as a tackler, forager, ball carrier and link man.

A key member of the England Saxons’ side that beat Scotland A 36-19 to lift the 2008 Barclays Churchill Cup, he had begun playing when seven at Warlingham RFC. He was educated at Cumnor House School, Surrey, became the captain of Harlequins last season and has led the club to the top of the Aviva Premiership this season.

Redhill-born Chris captained Millfield, where he was a contemporary of Gloucester’s Olly Morgan and Anthony Allen, now of Leicester Tigers and shared in a Grand Slam at U21 level.

After playing in the first three matches, a broken leg ended his tournament prematurely but he recovered to appear in the 2006 IRB U21 World Championship. He represented the national U18 side and went on to study for a degree in Business Management at Roehampton University.

He scored two tries on his Harlequins’ debut in the 42-3 win over Birmingham & Solihull at Twickenham Stoop in January 2006 and advanced to 145 appearances, including 96 in the Premiership, by mid-March this year.