Robin Cowling

Robin James Cowling (24 March 1944 – August 2026) was an English rugby union player. He won 8 caps for between 1977 and 1979, and played 216 games for Gloucester Rugby between 1967 and 1974 before playing 184 times for Leicester Tigers between 1974 and his retirement in 1981.

Early life Cowling was born in Ipswich, Suffolk, but moved to the South West as a small baby. His mother was from Gloucester, his grandfather was a former captain of Gloucester Rugby, and his uncle was John A'Bear, who toured with the British Lions in 1936.

Career Cowling made his Gloucester debut on October 21, 1967, as a hooker, against Newport. He quickly switched to his henceforth regular position of loosehead prop and was a regular in the side from December 1967. In 1972, Cowling started the inaugural RFU Knockout Cup Final where Gloucester beat Moseley, and the County Championship Final where Gloucestershire won their first title since 1937. He didn't play in the John Player Cup Final against Gloucester in 1978 due to a shoulder injury sustained playing for England, but started in Leicester's three successive Cup Final wins, against Moseley in 1979, London Irish in 1980 and in his final game the 1981 Final against Gosforth. He also played for the Barbarians.

Cowling was on the Exeter Chiefs coaching staff from 1997 until his death in 2026,