About:

Robin is a former Welsh International and Cardiff Blues rugby player who played in Wales’s Grand Slams teams in 2005 and 2008, he also played in the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in 2006. Robin played over 120 times for the Cardiff Blues, captaining them on 15 occasions  and receiving the Players Player of the Year award in the 2007-08 season.

Robin began using CrossFit in 2009 to supplement his rugby strength and conditioning program.

‘The first CrossFit workout I tried was after a pitch session with a couple of my former Cardiff Blues team mates, Mark Lewis and Nicky Robinson. We did a workout called Fran, what I thought was a simple, straight forward couplet of exercises soon became apparent not to be the case, it left us all shaking from head to toe!! From then on I have learnt to appreciate and value the benefits CrossFit’s constantly varying workouts can bring to any strength and conditioning programs no matter what the level of fitness may be’.

I get no greater satisfaction than seeing people achieve their own personal goals regardless of how big or small they may seem. When planning my training programs I specifically aim at helping clients achieve their goals but in ways that are exciting and varied

After retiring from professional rugby in February 2011, Robin joined the Dragon CrossFit coaching team and has helped to develop Dragon CrossFit to go from strength to strength. The work ethic of the Dragon CrossFit members is second to none and hugely rewarding to us as coaches. Watching individuals achieve things that they did not think was possible when they first start in the gym is a huge reflection on the individuals as well as being reflective of the benefit that CrossFit training can bring.

The scalability of CrossFit allows people of all levels of fitness, from complete beginners to elite athletes train next to each other, that’s what is special about the CrossFit community, everyone’s appreciation of the effort the person next to you is putting into a workout, regardless of what level of fitness they maybe. Hard work is hard work!

Members of Dragon CrossFit show up everyday and push their own limits and question their own physical and perhaps mental frailty. Their attitude and willingness to succeed make them a better and stronger individual. This has a positive affect then on their everyday lives. CrossFit is far more than just a type strength and conditioning program. It’s a lifestyle.

Performance is a positive side effect of CrossFit, but these positive characteristics and traits helps our members to get things done and inspires others around them. The hardest thing we do as CrossFit coaches is to make our members realise that fitness is a mental adaptation to exercise and not just doing exercise for the physical benefits.

Achievements 

International Honors

•  8 Wales Rugby Caps- including New Zealand, Australia, South Africa.
•  2 x 6 Nations Champions/Grand Slam Medals 2005 and 2007
•  48 Wales 7s Caps on IRB world 7s circuit
•  Represented Wales 7s at the 2006 Commonwealth Games
•  Represented Barbarians on 5 occasions.

 Regional Achievements

• 120+ games for Cardiff Blues
• Captain of Cardiff Blues on 15 occasions
•  2008/2009 Cardiff Blues Players Player of the Year
•  9 Magners league man of match medals
•  2004/2005 Cardiff Blues Most Promising Player

Other Achievements

•  68^th in Ultra Marathon Race 2011 Brecon-Cardiff