Before the All Blacks: Scott Robertson’s Club Rugby Experience in Northern Ireland

The All Blacks, under head coach Scott Robertson, commenced their northern hemisphere tour with a notable victory against England on Saturday. The upcoming Autumn Nations Series fixture between Ireland and New Zealand is scheduled for Friday, 8 November, at 20:10 GMT, at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Coverage will be available via live commentary on BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Sounds, alongside live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app. Decades before achieving recognition as a prominent coach in global rugby, preceding his signature breakdancing celebrations, his All Blacks appearances, or his ‘Razor’ nickname, Scott Robertson was a New Zealand teenager eager to explore the world. This ambition led him 31 years ago to Hamilton Park, the home of Ards RFC in Northern Ireland. Approximately 100 miles from his vantage point on Friday night at the Aviva Stadium, where he will observe his All Blacks team compete against Ireland, Robertson continues to be a “favourite topic of conversation” for the Greyabbey family who hosted him during his nine-month residence in Ireland. David Heron, then president of Ards RFC and still a member, recounted: “We were on holiday in New Zealand and stayed with a guy who’d come over on a teacher exchange to Bangor Grammar,” adding, “He said to us that there was a lad at the school that he was working in who’d love to come and play rugby in Ireland. We went to meet his parents and found he was dead keen, so we made arrangements for him to stay with us.” Heron noted, “The only problem was getting Scott registered, because at that time Ards were playing in the All-Ireland League, but I thought that shouldn’t be a problem.” However, this proved to be a more significant hurdle than expected, with unforeseen bureaucratic obstacles restricting the future All Black to playing solely for the club’s 2nd XV in competitive matches. Neil Workman, a former Ards team-mate and current honorary secretary at the club, recalled, “It was obvious he was going to be a good player.” He further stated, “We were just absolutely heartbroken that we couldn’t get him in the All-Ireland League squad even though he was just 18. It was obvious, even at that age, that he was a clinker of a player.” Workman added, “He tackled like an Exocet. Everyone was just so impressed by how aggressive he was.” Workman highlighted a specific match that became part of the club’s history, stating, “Indeed, one game in particular has gone down in the club’s lore.” He elaborated, “We were playing Bangor in a friendly and they had a southern hemisphere player too,” continuing, “To Scott, it was a challenge that he was going to top dog that man. He absolutely piled into him at every opportunity, emptied him.” Workman concluded, “Everyone just went ‘wow’. I was talking to one of the Ards boys recently who has emigrated to Australia and that has always been his abiding memory too.” Robertson’s appointment as the next All Blacks coach was announced in March 2023, with him assuming the role following last year’s World Cup. During his stay, Robertson lacked both employment and a driving licence. Heron facilitated a job for him on a building site alongside his son-in-law and organized transportation from the family residence to Ards’ training sessions, often with teammates travelling the same route. Observers soon noted that the journeys back from training frequently extended beyond the time taken for the outward trips. Workman commented on Robertson’s participation in regular post-training social gatherings, saying, “He loved the social side.” He added, “We introduced him to Guinness, which is something he took back to New Zealand with him. With his blond hair, blue eyes and surfer’s demeanour, he was the ultimate wingman around the pubs of Newtownards and Bangor.” Workman also recounted, “He sent us a lovely video for the club’s 90th anniversary where he said the majority of his memories were nights on the Guinness and namechecked various people including myself for nearly ruining his rugby physique forever. “I was chuffed to know I was nearly responsible for stopping his career before it started.” During his period in Northern Ireland, Scott Robertson resided with David and Ann Heron, a couple from Greyabbey. Upon his return home after his time with Ards, Robertson communicated to his mother in New Zealand his intention to return to Ireland as an All Black. Although this aspiration might have appeared ambitious then, the back rower fulfilled his promise, making his national debut in 1998. Three years subsequent, he played against Ireland in a Test match that also marked Richie McCaw’s debut. During that visit, he made sure to visit the Heron household and has maintained communication ever since. Heron stated that Robertson has consistently demonstrated the “special attributes” that enabled his rise to one of the most sought-after positions in the sport, citing instances such as creating a rehabilitation plan for the family’s son Steven following a rugby knee injury, and years later, regularly contacting their late daughter Gillian during her cancer treatment. From his tenure as a player, through his Super Rugby triumphs coaching the Crusaders, to his current leadership of the All Blacks, the Heron family and members of Ards RFC have observed his progression in the sport with pride from afar. Workman remarked, “It’s been great for us all to say we played on the same pitch as Razor Robertson.” He continued, “To see him coaching is fantastic. We’re very proud to have that association. We’ve a history at the club of international back-row players with Nigel Carr and Phillip Matthews and to say that he played for Ards has been a fantastic honour. “We’ve all watched his career with interest and been very proud that Ards was a bit of an education for him.” Several individuals have obtained tickets for Friday’s significant match and anticipate meeting Robertson post-game. However, Heron pointed out an unusual predicament they will encounter during the 80 minutes of play: “The only problem in the family’s position is who do we support? Ireland or Scotty?”