{{short description|English RL coach and former professional rugby league footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}} {{Use British English|date=February 2020}} {{Infobox rugby league biography | new = yes | name = Robin Peers | image = | image_size = | caption = | fullname = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1982|1|18|df=y}} | birth_place = North Tyneside, England | height = {{convert|1.72|m|ftin|abbr=on|order=flip}} | weight = {{convert|84|kg|lbs|abbr=on}} | position = {{rlp|WG}} | club1 = Gateshead Thunder | year1start = 1999 | year1end = 2012 | appearances1 = 218 | tries1 = | goals1 = | fieldgoals1 = | points1 = | coachteam1 = Boston Thirteens | coachyear1start = 2012 | coachyear1end = present | coachgames1 = 0 | coachwins1 = 0 | coachdraws1 = 0 | coachlosses1 = 0 | coachteamA = United States | coachyearAstart = 2016 | coachyearAend = | coachgamesA = 0 | coachwinsA = 0 | coachdrawsA = 0 | coachlossesA = 0 | updated = 26 February 2021 | source = <ref>{{Rugby league records |id=2327 |title=Robin Peers |access-date=5 June 2024}}</ref> }}
'''Robin Peers''' (born 18 January 1982) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who went on to be head coach of the Boston Thirteens in the USARL, and interim Head Coach of the USA Hawks National Team. He played 13 years for his only club Gateshead Thunder.<ref name="bbc">{{cite news|location=London|title=Robin Peers reaps rewards for Gateshead Thunder loyalty|work=BBC Sport|access-date=2013-04-19|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/17525455}}</ref><ref name="thunderrugby">{{cite web|url=http://www.thunderrugby.com/article.php?id=7569|title=Official Gateshead Thunder RLFC Web Site|publisher=Thunderrugby.com|date=2012-03-19|accessdate=2013-07-02}}</ref> He made his first grade début in 2002 as a winger, and played there for most of his career,<ref name="news">{{cite news|title=Rugby League's North East missionary|date=2010-07-28|access-date=2013-04-20|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/8792938.stm|publisher=BBC|location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thunderrugby.com/article.php?id=2148|title=Official Gateshead Thunder RLFC Web Site|publisher=Thunderrugby.com|date=2010-07-09|accessdate=2013-07-02}}</ref> however his final season in 2012 was spent playing full back.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nwemail.co.uk/raiders/news/gateshead-thunderclouds-loom-over-barrow-skies-1.941439?referrerPath=afc|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505060130/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/raiders/news/gateshead-thunderclouds-loom-over-barrow-skies-1.941439?referrerPath=afc|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 May 2013|title=North West Evening Mail | Raiders | News | Gateshead Thunderclouds loom over Barrow skies|publisher=Nwemail.co.uk|date=2012-04-05|accessdate=2013-07-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thunderrugby.com/article.php?id=7313|title=Official Gateshead Thunder RLFC Web Site|publisher=Thunderrugby.com|date=2012-02-27|accessdate=2013-07-02}}</ref> Peers was a prominent part of the Gateshead Thunder team that were championship winners in 2008.
==Childhood== Robin grew up in Wallsend (North Tyneside)<ref name="bbc" /> where he attended Richardson Dees First School, Western Middle School and Burnside Community High School. He played his junior rugby league for Newcastle Eagles (now Wallsend Eagles),<ref name="news" /> signing for the club in 1992. Before taking up rugby league, Peers played football at junior level for the world famous Wallsend Boys Club.<ref name="bbc" /><ref name="news" />
During his childhood, he made numerous representative squads in Football, Rugby League, Rugby Union and Athletics.
==Playing career== Robin made 218 appearances in his 13 seasons with Gateshead Thunder <ref name="bbc" /> which is currently a club record.<ref name="thunderrugby" /><ref>{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Mark|url=http://www.journallive.co.uk/newcastle-sports/north-east-rugby/gateshead-thunder/2012/03/27/testimonial-match-is-an-honour-for-stalwart-robin-peers-61634-30630493|title=Testimonial match is an honour for stalwart Robin Peers - Gateshead Thunder - Rugby - Sport|publisher=JournalLive|date=2012-04-04|accessdate=2013-07-02|archive-date=7 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120607142722/http://www.journallive.co.uk/newcastle-sports/north-east-rugby/gateshead-thunder/2012/03/27/testimonial-match-is-an-honour-for-stalwart-robin-peers-61634-30630493/|url-status=dead}}</ref> He signed for the club in 1999<ref name="bbc" /><ref name="thunderrugby" /> while still in high school and made his final appearance on 1 April 2012, scoring a 90m try in a 30-18 defeat versus Whitehaven.<ref name="journallive">{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Mark|url=http://www.journallive.co.uk/newcastle-sports/north-east-rugby/gateshead-thunder/2012/04/02/gateshead-thunder-18-whitehaven-30-61634-30672779|title=Gateshead Thunder 18 Whitehaven 30 - Gateshead Thunder - Rugby - Sport|publisher=JournalLive|date=2012-04-10|accessdate=2013-07-02|archive-date=7 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120607125409/http://www.journallive.co.uk/newcastle-sports/north-east-rugby/gateshead-thunder/2012/04/02/gateshead-thunder-18-whitehaven-30-61634-30672779/|url-status=dead}}</ref> 3 days prior to this, Peers played in his testimonial game versus a North East Select XIII.<ref name="bbc" /><ref name="journallive" /><ref>{{cite web|author=Dave Sparks / JDG Media|url=http://www.loverugbyleague.com/stats/match/?match=7462|title=Gateshead Thunder v Whitehaven RLFC - 01/04/12|publisher=Loverugbyleague.com|date=|accessdate=2013-07-02|archive-date=23 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623163252/http://www.loverugbyleague.com/stats/match/?match=7462|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.Whitehavenews.co.uk/news/haven-see-off-battling-gateshead-1.941434?referrerPath=|title=News | Haven see off battling Gateshead|publisher=Whitehaven News|date=2012-04-05|accessdate=2013-07-02}}</ref> He was awarded this in 2011 by the Rugby Football League for his services to his club and to the sport.<ref name="thunderrugby" />
In 2009, Peers was part of the Gateshead Thunder side that finished 7th in the Co-operative Championship<ref name="bbc" /> and runners-up in the Northern Rail 9s plate. He was also a part of their Challenge Cup run to the quarter-finals where they were eventually knocked out by cup holders St Helens.<ref name="bbc" />
In 2008 he won a league championship as part of the Gateshead team that season.<ref name="bbc" /> He made 15 appearances on the wing and scored 9 tries. He was on the field as the club clinched the league title on 17 August 2008 with a 22-14 win away at Workington Town.
Robin made his début for Gateshead in 2002 versus Oldham Roughyeds.
In 1999, he was part of the Gateshead Thunder Academy side that won the Academy Division 2 Championship.<ref name="bbc" />
In 2012, Peers was a nominee for the Northern Star Award at the Co-operative Championships Awards Dinner.<ref>{{cite web|author=Mark Smith|url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/other-sport/rugby-league/dinner-date-thunder-stalwart-robin-1371840|title=A dinner date for Thunder stalwart Robin Peers|publisher=Chronicle Live|date=2012-09-27|accessdate=2013-07-02}}</ref>
==Playing Career - International== Prior to making his first appearance for Gateshead, Robin was part of the successful England Universities team <ref>{{cite web|url=http://rleague.com/news/England-student-squad-announced_113283|title=England student squad announced|publisher=Rleague.com|date=|accessdate=2013-07-02}}</ref> that won the European Rugby Cup in 2001. The competition was held in Kazan (Russia) and the squad won all 4 games to take home the cup. Robin, scoring his first international try in the final.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onwardhornetsonward.co.uk/story/20010916.htm|title=Rochdale Hornets|publisher=Onward Hornets Onward|date=2001-09-16|accessdate=2013-07-02}}{{Dead link|date=February 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref>
After returning from Kazan, Peers was selected to represent Great Britain students versus BARLA Great Britain u23s in the Scottish Courage Cup Final a game that the students won. The game was played at Castleford Tigers RLFC.
He made one further appearance for England in December 2001 against the touring Queensland Universities side. The game was played at Blackheath RFC in London.
==Coaching career== Alongside his playing career, Peers trained and practiced as a rugby league coach. He started coaching at Newcastle Eagles (now Wallsend Eagles) in 2003, forming and coaching many of their teams (juniors & adults).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://testing2.theruaa1.miniserver.com/article/play-off-time-for-north-east.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411085257/http://testing2.theruaa1.miniserver.com/article/play-off-time-for-north-east.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-04-11|title=Rugby League Conference|date=11 April 2013}}</ref> He was employed as a full-time Community Rugby League Coach for County Durham<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thunderrugby.com/article.php?id=3163|title=Official Gateshead Thunder RLFC Web Site|publisher=Thunderrugby.com|date=2010-11-16|accessdate=2013-07-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Craig A Rodway|url=http://www.bishopbarrington.net/news/91/18/Barrington-Pupils-represents-the-North-East|title=News - Bishop Barrington School. Bishop Auckland in County Durham|publisher=Bishopbarrington.net|date=|accessdate=2013-07-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.englandrl.co.uk/video.php?id=12181 |title=England Rugby League |website=www.englandrl.co.uk |access-date=3 February 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130420015711/http://www.englandrl.co.uk/video.php?id=12181 |archive-date=20 April 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> in May 2005 and worked in this role until October 2009. He then worked full-time for the Rugby Football League as a Talent Coach <ref name="bbc" /><ref>{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Mark|url=http://www.journallive.co.uk/newcastle-sports/north-east-rugby/rugby-other/2011/03/08/leeds-rhinos-move-for-sinclair-matthews-61634-28295605|title=Leeds Rhinos move for Sinclair Matthews - Rugby Other - Rugby - Sport|publisher=JournalLive|date=|accessdate=2013-07-02}}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tynewearsport.org/news.aspx?id=2296|title=Coaches breakfast meeting a success|publisher=Tynewearsport.org|date=2012-02-27|accessdate=2013-07-02}}{{Dead link|date=February 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Daly|first=Phil|url=http://www.therhinos.co.uk/news/9720.php#.UVvSFByyDXo|title=News | Leeds Rhinos | Official Site : Rhinos cast net wide to catch rugby talent|publisher=Therhinos.co.uk|date=2011-02-28|accessdate=2013-07-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thunderrugby.com/page.php?id=991|title=Official Gateshead Thunder RLFC Web Site|publisher=Thunderrugby.com|date=|accessdate=2013-07-02}}</ref> from November 2009 to March 2012.
In 2010 and 2011, Peers worked on coach development projects for the Rugby League European Federation. In May 2010 he was part of the management team of a delegation that visited Rostov-on-Don, Russia to help promote and develop the sport of Rugby League.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rleague.com/news/RFL-visit-to-Rostov_85417|title=RFL visit to Rostov|publisher=Rleague.com|date=|accessdate=2013-07-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thunderrugby.com/article.php?id=1717|title=Official Gateshead Thunder RLFC Web Site|publisher=Thunderrugby.com|date=2010-05-12|accessdate=2013-07-02}}</ref> In March 2011, he worked on the RLEF Technical Coaching Strategy Course at Brunel University in London, a course that saw more than 50 delegates attend from 19 different nations.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rlef.eu.com/news/article/67/england-coach-mcnamara-to-launch |title=RLEF |access-date=3 April 2013 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924091900/http://www.rlef.eu.com/news/article/67/england-coach-mcnamara-to-launch |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[http://www.therfl.co.uk/news/article/mcnamara-to-launch-rlef-technical Unknown]{{Dead link|date=February 2022 | fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>
In 2012, he was recruited to coach the Boston 13s franchise in the USA Rugby League and led them to their first USA Rugby League national championship in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boston13s.com/boston-crowned-national-champions/|title=Boston Crowned National Champions|date=30 August 2015|publisher=|access-date=1 July 2018|archive-date=2 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702011159/http://boston13s.com/boston-crowned-national-champions/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rugbyleagueplanet.com/united-states/2358-boston-gears-up-for-second-championship-tilt|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702011037/https://www.rugbyleagueplanet.com/united-states/2358-boston-gears-up-for-second-championship-tilt|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 July 2018|title=France and Italy name squads for League U19 Euro Championships - France - International Rugby League News|website=www.rugbyleagueplanet.com}}</ref>
In January 2016, Peers took on interim head-coaching duties with the United States in their exhibition match against the Leeds Rhinos, coached by current USA coach, Brian McDermott. He followed this up by taking the interim USA coaching duties again in July 2016, leading the United States to a big 54-4 win over Jamaica in the Rugby League Americas Championship Series <ref>{{cite web|url=http://rugbywrapup.com/2016/07/usa-rugby-league-usarl-hawks-rout-jamaica-reggae-warriors/|title=USA Rugby League: USARL Hawks rout Jamaica Reggae Warriors|date=26 July 2016|publisher=}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}} {{s-start}} {{S-sport}} {{succession box | before = | after = Peter Lupton<br />2021-present | title = Coach<br />{{leagueicon|Ipswich|size=18}}<br />Boston Thirteens | years = 2012-2019 }} {{s-end}}
{{United States national rugby league team coaches}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Peers, Robin}} Category:1982 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century English sportsmen Category:21st-century English sportsmen Category:Boston Bears (rugby league) coaches Category:English rugby league coaches Category:English rugby league players Category:Newcastle Thunder players Category:Rugby league players from Tyne and Wear Category:Rugby league wingers Category:United States national rugby league team coaches