E FYLDE 1ST XV!
Obviously, having great and well experienced props in the team like PeteA, Corey, Chris & OliT, has been extremely helpful as they have provided me with so much advice and support on how to get the most out of my game. Being able to practice my scrummaging against such good props has been amazing and has helped my game massively. As me and Pete both work at Myerscough it has meant we have been able to develop an even closer relationship and this has been hugely beneficial to me as it has meant I am able to pick his brains about all aspects of the game, which has made me feel a lot more confident at National League level.
especially with my overall reading of the game and ability on the ball improving due to their coaching. Lono has particularly helped me this year in really focusing in on improving my scrummaging technique and I believe this guidance has meant I am able to hold my own in the scrums consistently. Q. Being a prop is pretty technical - what has been the most challenging aspect of this? As a prop my main focus is set piece. When I first started as a prop in the Vandals, I was coming up against much more
Q. What are your principal strengths?
As my game has developed over the years I believe my biggest strengths are: being a strong ball carrier, being more mobile and effective in the loose compared to other props, as well as having a ‘never give up’ attitude in every game, meaning I leave everything out on the pitch and give everything for the team. Q. How have you been received by the other members of the 1st XV squad? The first team squad has been very welcoming to me and my transition into the fist team squad has been seamless. I couldn’t ask for a better group of lads to be in a rugby team with. I believe I have been received well by the other members of the squad and I get along with all of them so well. This close bond is key to having a great team that can win rugby games. This bond with the squad has allowed me to develop as a person and as a rugby player as I have been able to learn so much from the lads.
experienced front rowers for the first time, so the opposing props really turned me over due to my lack of experience. So, as I have moved up the teams my technique has improved. However, one of the things I found most challenging was scrummaging with a good technique consistently. This year I have really taken time to work on this and I believe I have improved thanks to the coaching and advice I have received this year Q. Has propping in the National League been a challenge for you? During my debut game for the 1st team, I was thrown in the deep end coming off the bench after only couple of minutes at Sheffield in the first match of the 2024-25 season. During this game I struggled to adapt to the speed of the game and wasn’t great in the scrum due the obvious quality of the prop I was up against. [Match reporter Simon Taylor said: “With barely a minute on the clock gone Fylde were forced into a change, both in personnel and position. Local lad Rob King’s rise from the Vandals to the 1st XV was complete as he came on at prop. King may have wondered if he was going to get any game time. Instead, he was handed a baptism of fire very early in which he did himself and the team proud, until a knock forced him off after 50 minutes of hard graft.”] As I have played more games and gained more experience against these better props, I believe I have started to get used to this level with the speed of the game no longer being much of an issue and improving my scrummaging week on week.
Q. What’s your day time job/activity?
I am a Sports Assistant at Myerscough College. This means I help look after all the different sports facilities across the College working closely with other sports staff and external bookings. We asked Hawks Coach Steve Gough about Rob’s development: “Rob has progressed really well. When I arrived at the club Rob was unsure of his true potential. Rob’s growth has been typical of a young prop forward making his way in senior rugby. He certainly has the potential to make the position his for a very long time.”
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