Neath supporters will be sorry to learn of the passing of former Ebbw Vale skipper Neil Robinson after a long illness.

Neil – or “Crusoe” as he was popularly known in that academy of rugby excellence Neath Grammar School – hailed from Glynneath and made the first of 10 appearances for Neath against Wrexham in the Cup in 1977 when still a sixth former at Dwr-y-Felin.

That season he represented the Welsh Secondary Schools alongside Andrew Vaughan – another forward who was taken from us too soon.

He went on to study at Cardiff’s then South Glamorgan Institute before teaching P.E. at Tredegar and Blackwood and enjoying a long career in the back-row with Ebbw Vale RFC.

The Neath club’s sympathies go to his family