Career
A Great Britain and England international, and Yorkshire representative second-row, he played at club level for Oldham, Wigan, Salford, Barrow, Blackpool Borough, and Swinton during the era of contested scrums, he died in Blackpool. Irving was signed by Oldham from Huddersfield"s amateur side Saint Joseph"s at 16 years of age and within weeks was playing in the first team International honours
County Cup final appearances
Bob Irving played Right-second-row, id est (that is) number 12, in Oldham"s 13–16 defeat by Wigan in the 1966 Lancashire Cup final during the 1966-1967 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 29 October 1966, and played Left-second-row, id est (that is) number 11, in the 2–30 defeat by Saint Helens in the 1968 Lancashire Cup final during the 1968-1969 season at Central Park, Wigan on Friday 25 October 1968, played Left-second-row, id est (that is) number 11, in Wigan"s 19–9 victory over Salford in the 1973 Lancashire Cup final during the 1973-1974 season at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington on Saturday 13 October 1973, and played Right-prop, id est (that is) number 10, in the 13–16 defeat by Workington Town in the 1977 Lancashire Cup final during the 1977-1978 season at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington on Saturday 29 October 1977.
Robert Irving is an Oldham Hall of Fame Inductee.
Irving was a hotelier in Blackpool, and studied for a degree, becoming a senior lecturer in business studies at Blackpool and The Fylde College. He died aged 51, in 1999, following a heart attack.