When flying back home after his spell with Ards, Robertson had wrote to his mother in New Zealand to say when he returned to Ireland it would be as an All Black.
If that seemed fanciful at the time, the back-rower was true to his word, debuting for his country in 1998 and, three years later, lining up against Ireland in a Test match that marked the debut of Richie McCaw. During that trip, he made time for a visit to the Heron home and has stayed in contact since.
Whether it be making out a rehab schedule for the family’s son Steven after a knee injury playing rugby or, years later, regularly checking in with their late daughter Gillian during her treatment for cancer, Heron believes Robertson has long displayed the “special attributes” that have allowed him to ascend into one of the most coveted jobs in the sport.
From his playing days, through Super Rugby successes when coaching the Crusaders and now leading the man in charge of the All Blacks, the family and those at Ards RFC have watched his rise in the game with pride from the other side of the world.
“It’s been great for us all to say we played on the same pitch as Razor Robertson,” adds Workman.
“To see him coaching is fantastic. We’re very proud to have that association. We’ve a history at the club of international back-row players with Nigel Carr and Phillip Matthews and to say that he played for Ards has been a fantastic honour.
“We’ve all watched his career with interest and been very proud that Ards was a bit of an education for him.”
Some have managed to secure tickets for Friday’s big game and are hoping to meet up with Robertson afterwards, although Heron notes they will face an unusual dilemma during the preceding 80 minutes.
“The only problem in the family’s position is who do we support? Ireland or Scotty?”
