The end of an era as Ulster lose long serving duo - Neil Best

No matter what era we’re in, we need hope

There was something hugely symbolic last week when the IRFU dispensed with the services of a long serving Ulster duo – physio Gareth Robinson (GG) and days later Jonny Davis. Added to the retirements of Andrew Trimble, Tommy Bowe and Paul Marshall – this season maybe more than any other, really has the feel of the end of an era.

Players and fans alike have watched GG on the touchline riding the emotional rollercoaster with them for nearly twenty years. In triumph and in failure he has been the physical embodiment of “Mr Ulster Fan”. Leaping wildly or face in hands, he’s been there with them.

When I was at Ulster GG was affectionately known as the club snitch – the man who would feed management the gossip of the massage table. But he got away with stuff because he was well liked. He cared about the Club and of course some of us learned to feed him what we wanted management to hear. His only moment of infidelity in his eighteen years was a brief flirt with a move to GAA, but his head was only turned fleetingly, and he quickly returned his attention to his true love – Ulster Rugby.

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Maybe more importantly GG is also key to my favourite Ulster injury story – Neil McMillan’s broken wrist. Just before the injury happened, Ulster invested in some new high-end medical technology. To the players it looked like an expensive hairdryer with lights. His wrist has been misdiagnosed as not broken and that put him right at the front of the queue. McMillan would be the experimental first patient. There was a buzz of excitement in the dressing room on a level probably felt by Christiaan Barnard before the first heart transplant. McMillan got the hairdryer and GG was centre stage.

A few weeks passed before the physio team realised that the new equipment had to be calibrated as well as switched on. Around the same time, we found out McMillan’s wrist was in fact broken – and the light-up hairdryer wouldn’t have made a difference.

It’s those memories and stories that made GG such a part of the furniture at Ulster. And had Shane Logan not been on notice himself, I think GG’s departure would have oddly been the straw that broke the camel’s back. Logan wouldn’t have been able to deliver GG’s removal for the IRFU and stay himself. In many ways that is why we are witnessing these things happen now. It’s all about easing the way for a new CEO -untarnished by unpopular decisions. It has suited the IRFU to saddle Logan with dispatching first Jackson and Olding -and now some longstanding backroom staff.

My advice to the incoming CEO is clear. If GG stays in Northern Ireland for his next role, make yourself popular and hand deliver him the Sparky outfit. Put him back on the touchline for next season and stick two fingers up to the IRFU in the process.

The history of liberty is a history of resistance