Tom Robertson

Rugby has many educated prop forwards and rugby has many cauliflower-eared prop forwards.

Tom Robertson, a tough, tenacious, athletic and versatile front-rower is a genuine contender in both categories. The holder of a Master of Public Health and a Master of Philosophy (Medicine), Robertson also possesses an angry left ear that Paddy Ryan, Wallaby 866, unkindly referred to as "Little Tommy".

Born in the central west New South Wales town of Wellington, Robertson played his junior rugby for the Dubbo Kangaroos before he came to board in Sydney at the prolific Wallaby nursery that is St. Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill. After graduation the schools and aged representative enrolled in a medical science degree at the University of Sydney.

He played for Sydney Stars in the inaugural 2014 season of the National Rugby Championship and in 2016 was offered a contract with New South Wales. That 2016 became a whirlwind for Robinson as he scored a try on debut for the Tahs against the Highlanders and within six months had played his maiden Test, against Argentina in Perth.

Over the following two seasons, Robertson firmly established himself within the Wallabies’ match day squad before disaster struck in the 2018 Rugby Championship. Robertson ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during a non-contact training exercise ahead of the second Test against Argentina. He was ruled out for the rest of that year and did not return until after the World Cup in Japan.

Robertson described his 2021 move to the Western Force as being “like a breath of fresh air” as he strived to rekindle his international career. Robertson enjoyed a strong Super Rugby tournament however he missed selection for the home series against France.

Keen to know why, Robinson called coach Dave Rennie and the advice he received proved invaluable. Rennie was happy with Robertson’s set-piece but wanted him to work on his “agility and getting more dynamic around the ball.” Robertson made his long-awaited return against South Africa in Brisbane and then in late 2022, played the final four matches of the Spring Tour - predominantly off the bench and at loose-head.

In 2023, Robertson was awarded a John Monash Scholarship to undertake a Master of International Health and Tropical Medicine at Oxford University, which he completed after a sabbatical from the Western Force to recover from an ACL injury.

After a staring season in 2025 for the Force and a strong performance against the Lions in the opening tour game in Perth, Robertson was propelled into the Wallabies twenty-three for the first two test matches of the series.