Robert attended Warwick School, and in fact was in the same school rugby side as Sidney Nelson Crowther, the first Old Warwickian to gain international honours for Great Britain. Robert, after leaving school, emigrated to Australia and represented New South Wales and later Australia in the second test against a touring Great Britain side in 1899. Due to funding constraints he was one of only six New South Wales players ( with Charlie Ellis, Hyram Marks, Lonnie Spragg, Peter Ward &amp; Bob McCowan) selected to make the trip to Brisbane four weeks after the historic first Test. His performance in that match was noted as "excellent" by the press.