Past Season 2005-06
Robin Clayborn Memorial Match
These photographs were kindly contributed by SP Photographics and remain their copyright
A Sporting Tribute to ROBIN CLAYBORN 1961 – 2005
Years before Robin donned the green jersey of Melbourne Rugby club he could always be found competing in one sport or another. At a very early age he showed a natural talent for swimming and represented the County for several years.
His love for water sports didn’t finish there and he would go along with his family to Hoveringham where they would spend weekend’s water skiing. Robin continued his love for water skiing and would spend many hours during his recent holidays with Paul and Don Prime skiing in Majorca. It was only last year that he purchased his own boat to continue skiing at Trent Lock.
The adrenaline sports didn’t stop there and during their late teens Robin and David purchased Motor-cross bikes and began competing in the various race meetings around the country.
Robin relived his teen years more recently where along with best friend Rick Thompson he would go away to Wales, France and Yorkshire to race their bikes across the countryside and also compete in 24 hour Endurance races.
Robin was a natural sportsman and very competitive at anything he chose to do so it was no surprise that he played, and continued to participate in a variety of sports including Golf, Hockey, Ten-pin bowling, Skiing, Squash and Football
The pioneers of Melbourne Rugby Club had kicked off a social scene at the recently formed club that was attracting many young players to join, and it wasn’t long before Robin joined his brother David at Melbourne in the 1983/84 season.
It was within that first season at the club that Robin found the sport that was to become the passion of his life. He started his playing career in the centres and soon developed his trademark “pirouette out of the tackle”.
Robin progressed and excelled at Melbourne Rugby Club and in the 1987/88 season decided to take the leap across the city and join the higher ranked Derby RFC. Here Robin continued to improve his game and in one of his first seasons scored over twenty tries playing at centre.
It was also during his time at Derby that Robin moved into the forwards at Number 8. He continued at Derby for another two seasons breaking into the 1st XV on many occasions.
Robin returned back to Melbourne RFC in the 1990/91 season to join David Clayborn and Pete Lewsey to form a formidable back row.
Not content with playing back row, Robin sort the guidance of Roger Lucas to convert to loose head prop, like a “duck to water” this was to become Robin’s natural position.
Robin joined other Melbourne players to represent Derbyshire in the 1994/95 seasons. This was a great achievement for Robin and Melbourne Rugby Club to have county representation at a senior level.
Although Robin gave 110% as a player on the pitch he was never far away from the “craic” off the pitch and will be remembered for his practical jokes, river walking, spats (spits) with David and constant banter.
Robin put as much back in to the club as he had received, and spent recent years as Match / Fixture Secretary, he joined the Selection committee, Social committee and helped in many coaching roles, especially with the Ladies team, Colts and girls section in which his daughter Sophie plays.
The social side of the rugby club was to form life long friendships for Robin and Sue and Saturday nights in Melbourne going up “Sunshine Mountain” and struggling to get back across the water to Chellaston were a common occurrence.
There are very few people that I have known that have given so much commitment and energy to Melbourne Rugby Club. and the saying that “Respect is earned and not Commanded” fits no bigger character than Robin Clayborn.
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