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Rob Henderson

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Rob Henderson
Birth nameRobert Alexander James Henderson
Date of birth (1972-10-27) 27 October 1972 (age 52)
Place of birthDover, England
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight93 kg (14.6 st)
SchoolTiffin School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
Young Munster ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
London Irish ()
1997–2001 Wasps 52 (90)
1999 Leinster 1 (0)
2001–06 Munster 66 (70)
2006–07 Toulon 24 (30)
Esher ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1999–2003 Ireland 29 (30)
2001 British & Irish Lions 3 (0)

Robert Alexander James Henderson (born 27 October 1972) is an Irish former rugby union player who played as a centre for a number of clubs, including Toulon and Munster. He represented Ireland internationally,[1] winning 29 caps, and toured with the 2001 British & Irish Lions, winning three caps.

Born in Dover, England, and educated at the Tiffin School, Kingston upon Thames,[2] Henderson's natural athletic ability and aggression were effectively harnessed by rugby coach Dave Morris.[3]

Henderson played for London Irish, Wasps, Leinster and joined Munster in late 2001. Whilst at Wasps he helped them win the Anglo-Welsh Cup in 1999 and 2000; he was a replacement in the 1999 final but started in 2000.[4][5]

Henderson's career highlights at Munster include his tackle on Austin Healey in April 2003, which contributed to the try which was scored a mere two minutes later. An injured Austin was unable to defend his line after being "Hendoed" and Ronan O'Gara got over the line.

Henderson joined the French side Toulon, then of Pro D2, in 2006 and played for three years there, including their promotion to the Top 14 in 2008, before returning to the UK to sign for Esher RFC.

In 2016 he joined Thames Ditton cricket club as a hard hitting middle order batsman. Injury permitted him playing properly until 2021, where he amassed 263 runs and scored his first club century, away to Stoke D'abernon. In 2022 he amassed 302 runs and in the process joined the fabled "95 club". Availability issues meant he only managed 127 runs in 2023, but his team mates saw enough in the performances to vote him in as the new 3rd XI captain ahead of the 2024 season.

References

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  1. ^ Adoption crisis, Irish Times, 16 March 2000
  2. ^ "Lion Rob glad to ring the changes", Chris Jones, Evening Standard, 27 February 2001
  3. ^ Mairs, Gavin (18 June 2013). "Lions 2013: lessons from game changer Rob Henderson" – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  4. ^ "Wasps win Cup at last". BBC. 16 May 1999. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  5. ^ "Wasps deny Saints cup double". BBC. 13 May 2000. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
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