Mowi Game of the Week - Iain Robinson Interview

Mowi Game of the Week - Oban Camanachd vs Newtonmore

Iain Robinson Interview

This Saturday, the Mowi Shinty Season throws up for 2026! Our game of the week sees Oban Camanachd host Newtonmore at Mossfield in what will be a tough contest for both sides. Having occupied 3rd and 2nd place, as well as facing off in the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup semi-final, both sides were much improved last season and will be confident of replicating this success in the 2026 season. Newtonmore saw much improvement last season, lifting the Camanachd and pushing for the title until the final day and will be looking to make their mark from the get go. Iain Robinson has been made captain off the back of a 34 goal season which saw him pick up the coveted Albert Smith medal, and we got his thoughts ahead of Saturday.

You travel to Mossfield in the first match of the 2026 season, how is the mood in the squad ahead of the game?

The mood is really positive just now. The boys have been working hard to make sure we are ready for the season starting. We obviously finished last season very well which has got all the boys itching to get going again.

With the likes of Michael Russel returning, how strong do you feel the squad is this season?

The squad will be strong again. Michael is still a while away I would say but we have a couple of other boys who will be returning to the squad this year. We’ve also got a lot of young talent who are doing a great job in the second team and I think some of them should be looking to make the step up this year.

 When we spoke to you ahead of last season you said you were looking to improve your own game as well as do better as a team – fair to say you went and did just that?

Yeah I did have a decent season. But as always, this season we will look to improve even further. At a club like Newtonmore there is always room to improve no matter how good a season the team has. Expectations are always high and it’s our job to deal with this and hopefully deliver.

Newtonmore had some good battles with Oban Camanachd last season, what do you make of them as a team?

Oban are a great side and they were well in the hunt for the league title last season as well as being very close in the cups. I fully expect them to be mounting a serious challenge again on all fronts. It’s about as tough a start as we could’ve been given, but the boys are well up for it and we will look to kickstart the season with 2 points.