Luke Robinson has postponed his wedding after receiving a call-up for England's Four Nations campaign in Australia and New Zealand. The scrum-half, who plays for Huddersfield Giants in the English Super League, was due to fly out to Las Vegas today for his stag party and marry fiancee Laura in Cyprus on October 25 but dropped plans for both trips after being handed the chance to represent his country.
Robinson, 26, one of seven new caps in coach Steve McNamara's 24-man squad, admits the call-up caused some frantic re-organisation. "I'm absolutely ecstatic but there's been a lot of of running around to do," Robinson told a news conference. "I was supposed to get married but that's off now. There's been a lot of heart to heart and a lot of tears but she's fully behind me, although she was crying as she was saying it.
"She said 'it's a once-in-a-life opportunity'. It's been a childhood dream to play for my country and I felt I couldn't turn it down. "We will lose some money, I'll be honest, but it's something I can't pass up. I'm over the moon." Laura, a schoolteacher, will still attend the wedding party in Cyprus, along with 60 guests, while six close friends are planning to fly to Las Vegas to enjoy Robinson's stag party in his absence.
Robinson said he planned to re-arrange the wedding for when he returns from the Four Nations, but the last-minute change of plans has particularly hit his best man, who is coming over from Australia for the occasion. "I don't know if he'll be able to get back to watch me play in Australia but hopefully he'll be around for the wedding," he said. McNamara paid tribute to the commitment of Robinson, adding: "It says it all.
"I heard a little whisper that he might be getting married so I made some inquiries last week. "It shows that his level of commitment is immense. You can see how infectious he is and what he will add to the group."
* Press Association
Profile of Whizkey
Date founded: 04 November 2017
Founders: Abdulaziz AlBlooshi and Harsh Hirani
Based: Dubai, UAE
Number of employees: 10
Sector: AI, software
Cashflow: Dh2.5 Million
Funding stage: Series A
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
