INTRODUCTION

Matthew Robinson's story is one of social mobility in sport. His journey is one made possible by raw talent and the will to succeed, but also opportunities made available to him. Together they saw Matthew represent his country Wales in Rugby Union, after impressing at club level running in tries on the wing for Swansea. Prior to that he played professional cricket, his first love in sport, for Somerset and Warwickshire. 

After stepping off the playing field, Matthew had a spell as a strength and conditioning coach, working for the English Institute of Sport, famed for training and motivating Olympic athletes like Katherine Grainger and Marlon Devonish. He has since found a new focus in education, working as head of Rugby and as a Housemaster at Kent College, Canterbury where he lives with his wife, former Great Britain triple-jumper Michelle Griffith and their three children: Reese, Eden and Elijah.

He remains passionate about the value of sport and rugby in particular in the development of youngsters of character and discipline and has embarked on a mission to extend the accessibility of the game, which has traditionally run through the English independent school system. 

Drawn from his own experiences, Matthew has founded the Kent College Social Mobility fund, which will provide young talent with a full scholarship for their Sixth Form education and an opportunity to play regular rugby, developing their skills for the future. In doing so he hopes to inspire individuals from diverse backgrounds to follow in his footsteps to the very top of the game. 

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Making my journey in rugby accessible to all young talent

An interview with

 MATTHEW ROBINSON