He played 148 matches for the Waratahs and has 72 Wallabies caps to his name but according to his teammates, retired prop Benn Robinson was just as valuable off the field as he was on it.

Robinson today announced his immediate retirement from all forms of rugby, a result of a serious eye injury suffered in the Waratahs round eight clash against the Brumbies this year.

Speaking to the Rugby Union Players Association from France, Wallaby Adam Ashley Cooper spoke fondly of ‘Cat’ and his contribution to the teams on and off field efforts.

“Seeing him there with his cute little headgear on as I ran past him on to the field of play used to give me such a lift; he’s certainly somebody you wanted to play alongside. Cat was a great team player and more importantly a better team mate,” Ashley Cooper said.

“My favourite memories will mostly revolve around going out to eat with him! Cat was always really well regarded as the go-to man when it came to the restaurant scene, both at home and on tour; he was the guy who had everything sorted when it came to going out for a meal.

“He would also go out of his way to extend invites to the younger blokes or guys he didn’t know as well, and you knew that if you got an invite to dinner with Cat, it was a special thing and it was a bit of a notch on your belt.

“He was a genius when it came to ordering and you wouldn’t even bother to pick up your menu; he’d order for you. I’ve allowed him to do that (order) for me ever since I have known him, and he has never disappointed me.”

20-year old Waratahs teammate Andrew Kellaway had similar memories of the Beecroft and Eastwood junior.

“Cat was always the first bloke who went and introduced himself to new guys when they first arrived at the Club,” Kellaway said.

“He’d extend his hand and see if they needed anything, and he would do that for every new player; for somebody who has achieved what he has and had been at the Club for so long, that’s pretty special.”

Robinson is currently serving as president of RUPA.

“He will certainly go on to achieve highly in whatever he puts his mind to next,” Ashley Cooper added.

“He can go out with his chest and head held high, which he would anyway as he has always possessed incredible posture, and now he can also finally devote some necessary time to improving his golf game.”