Announcing a webinar with ex-Irish rugby legend and South African ground-breaking radio host – John Robbie. On Wednesday 25th November at 7.30pm John Robbie will talk to our own broadcasting legend, Andy Dunne. Log-in details to follow.
John Robbie’s playing career is one of the most fascinating stories in Irish rugby. An outstanding scrum-half, he won a historic School’s Cup for High School over Belvedere in 1973. He went on to form a half-back partnership with Ollie Campbell and they played together for Leinster, Ireland and for the Lions, famously winning a 4th test V South Africa in 1980. Along the way he captained Trinity, Cambridge and his home club Greystones.
In 1981 after an Irish tour to South Africa he took up a job offer to work in Johannesburg and to play rugby for Transvaal. He went on to become one of their most celebrated players, playing what was then a record 83 times for them before retiring in 1988. He played twice for South Africa in unofficial internationals and sat on the bench four times in full internationals, without getting a cap. In 1987 he was voted one of the top five players in South Africa.
John’s story off the field is even more intriguing. Once he finished playing rugby, he started to do some media work. He soon became the host of the most popular daily radio talk show in South Africa.
He became known as the conscience of South Africa as he cross-examined politicians during the most dramatic period of South African history as the country finally left apartheid behind and Nelson Mandela led the country into a new era. John became famous for his confrontational, no-nonsense approach to holding his guests and callers to account.
His progressive attitude was not well received in all quarters and he was the subject of numerous death threats from official and unofficial sources. Undaunted, over a 30 year period John continued to be one the most successful broadcasters in South African history until his retirement in 2016.
We are delighted that John Robbie has agreed to talk to Andy Dunne about his career on and off the field on an exclusive webinar on Wednesday 25th November at 7.30pm. Log in details to follow. | 
