ROB KING: THEJOURNEYFROMTHE4THSTOTHE
This included one of my biggest and proudest achievements, winning the league and cup double in the 2022/23 season. I am proud of this season as I got to share the field with my brother and my dad joining the team on our journey to victory as match day manager.
Q. Rob, I know you’ve a strong family interest and involvement in rugby. Can you elaborate on these links? Me and my brother Jack both joined Fylde in 2007 after watching England during the 2007 Rugby World Cup. Fylde is our local team as we’ve always lived in the Fylde area, initially in Freckleton for my childhood and moving to Lytham later. With being at Fylde RFC for the best part of 18 years it has meant it’s been a big part of our family’s life. All my family members have played a huge role in my Rugby/Fylde journey with my Mum Elaine and Dad Damien driving me up and down the country to various different games on Sunday mornings during my time in the Mini- Juniors. My dad joined Fylde as a coach for my brother’s Mini-Juniors and later decided to make the crazy decision to start his rugby career in his forties joining up with the mighty Vandals. He enjoyed many great years in the Vandals including winning player of the year and even becoming the captain. My brother Jack played all the way through Mini-Juniors at Fylde as a tough tackling hard running back row and centre. He later joined my dad in the Vandals during which time they won their league’s cup in 2017.
Q. Where did you learn your rugby?
I played in the mini juniors at Fylde, from under 6’s all the way through to under 16’s. I was part of a very successful MJ team, winning one Lancashire Cup and reaching a further two finals. I really enjoyed my time in the mini- juniors being coached by some great people and enjoying some great rugby tours. During my mini junior career I was primarily a hooker, meaning I learnt most of my front row trade from my two forwards coaches, George Hunt and Mick Hays. Along with the rest of my coaches at mini juniors’ level they created a great environment to develop as rugby players and meant they created a formidable team. I eventually moved to tight head prop when I turned 18, due to my size, front row experience and lack of props in the Vandals. Moving into adult rugby and the front row at such a young age really taught me a lot from how tough adult rugby can get to getting turned over by older, vastly more experienced props. I was selected as the winner of Coaches Player of the Year for the Saracens in 2022 and Players’ Player of the Year for the Hawks in 2024 Q. As you’ve progressed through the Vandals, Saracens, to the Hawks and then to the 1st team squad, what effect has coaching had on you? During my earlier years of adult rugby most of the coaching that I had was from the extremely experienced and talented players, some of which were former first team players at Fylde. Being able to play along side these players allowed me to learn from them and ask them for advice, which played a huge part in my development into a much better and all rounded rugby player. Moving into the Hawks was my first experience of having a dedicated coach. Goughy (Steve Gough) has helped me massively as a player, firstly trusting me to make the move up to the 2nd team as well as developing me as a player particularly in the loose. His leadership has allowed me to improve as a player as well as allowing me to express myself in games which is a huge reason in why I was noticed and have been given a chance in the first team this season. Now I am in the 1st team squad I believe Briersy and Lono have developed me as a rugby player massively,
After completing my Mini- Junior career my biggest motivation to continue playing rugby was playing with my dad and brother. This eventually happened in the 2018/19 season when I joined the Vandals, Fylde’s 4th team at the time. Our first game
together was an away trip vs Burnley 2nd team where I came off the bench in the back row to join my brother and Dad. This was a great year for my family with all of us playing together and Jack going on to win Player of the Year. We continued to play together in the 2019/2020 season where I finally got to join my dad in the front row as I had now turned 18. The 2019/2020 season was cut short due to Covid and when rugby wasn’t returning the following season my dad decided to retire from rugby at the age of 50. After Covid me and my brother started to progress up the teams at Fylde joining the Saracens (Fylde 3rd team) where we played together for two seasons.
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