Bob Wilkinson (rugby union)

Bob Wilkinson

Full name	Robert Michael Wilkinson
Date of birth	(1951-07-25)25 July 1951
Place of birth	Luton, Bedfordshire, England
Date of death	1 February 2021(2021-02-01) (aged 69)
Place of death	Haynes, Bedfordshire, England
School	St Albans School
University	University of Cambridge
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 1969–1985 Bedford 311 (148) 1972–1984 Barbarians 19 (12) International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1975–1976 England 6 (0)

Robert Michael Wilkinson (25 July 1951 – 1 February 2021) was an English rugby union player who played as a lock. Born in Luton, he attended St Albans School and the University of Cambridge, where he earned three Blues between 1971 and 1973. He played his club rugby for Bedford RFC, for whom he made more than 311 appearances in a 16-year career; he made his debut as a 17-year-old in 1969, and made his final appearance in 1985. He captained Bedford from 1976 to 1979. He also made 19 appearances for the Barbarians between 1972 and 1984, including the famous victory over New Zealand in Cardiff in 1973, scoring three tries; he served as captain for the Barbarians for matches against Cardiff RFC and Newport RFC on their Easter tour to South Wales in 1979. He earned six caps for England between May 1975 and March 1976.

Wilkinson died on 1 February 2021 after a short illness. He was survived by his wife Sally and their four sons.