It is rare that you meet a rugby player, past or present, who does not enjoy the gym.

Sure, many will regale you with horror stories of running up sand dunes and preseason broncos but mention the gym, and they will brighten up considerably.

Former Wales, Cardiff Blues, and Newport Gwent Dragons back row Robin Sowden-Taylor is no different.

Following a successful rugby career, Sowden-Taylor founded ION in 2013, a strength and conditioning gym that now has two sites in Llanishen and Cardiff Bay, where they work closely with Space2B at the Maltings.

Despite being the owner, the former Wales backrow is hands on, often running sessions as a coach himself.

Prior to his career in business, Sowden-Talyor started his rugby career at the Blues, quickly establishing himself as a key part of the pack and earning Welsh international honours during the 2005 Six Nations, where Wales would win the Grand Slam.

The following three years would bring seven more caps, and another Grand Slam in 2008.

However, life was not always easy for Sowden-Taylor.

“I had a roller coaster of a career,” Sowden-Taylor says.

“I had an 18-month period where I went from starting for Wales in the summer test matches to finding myself injured and almost out of contract.

“To be honest, it really took its toll on me, my confidence and self-esteem. It was a tough decision, but I stepped away from professional rugby at age 28.”

As well as ION, which he describes as a health and wellness business, the former Blues forward was the strength and conditioning coach at the Cardiff Arms Park between 2014 and 2021.

Ahead of last year’s Rugby World Cup, Sowden-Taylor joined Warren Gatland’s coaching staff and has been a key member of the Wales team ever since, with his current focus on this month’s internationals.

Away from professional rugby, ION has grown in recent years. During Covid, the business also started a ‘corporate wellness’ arm, that helped other businesses develop their ‘corporate athlete’.

In that respect, Sowden-Taylor sees his business as one that is trying to fight against the obstacles that life has put in the way of many, and to help them live healthier lives.

“When we look at society, it is all built around comfort, convenience, that then just makes it harder and harder for people to address more movement, eating better foods, and that compounds stress through work and family lives,” Sowden-Taylor explains.

“Often, we find that we target mental health as much as the physical health. If I can impact people’s health and wellness outside of the four walls of ION, then that’s what I will be trying to do. It’s my passion that drives this.”

Another way ION is looking to improve the lives of its members, and indeed their environment, is through recycling.

“Our objective at ION is to have positive impact on both our local and wider communities from a health and wellness perspective, and looking after our environment is just another way we can do this,” Sowden-Taylor finishes.

“At ION, we believe that ‘how you do one thing is how you do everything’, the small habits we build, whether in training, nutrition, or daily actions, shape the bigger picture.

“Separating our waste for recycling has made a huge difference in keeping the gym clean, organised, and running efficiently.

“In a busy facility with people coming and going all day, having a system in place stops things from piling up and ensures everything stays in order is key. On a practical level, it’s also helped us cut down on general waste costs, recycling services are often cheaper, so it just makes sense financially too.”

Sowden-Taylor, as founder, has had a personal impact on ION’s green mission.

“But for us, it’s more than just keeping the gym tidy,” finishes Sowden-Taylor.

“We talk a lot about accountability, discipline, and responsibility in training, and this is no different. If we expect people to take ownership of their progress in the gym, we should also expect them to take ownership of their space and surroundings.

“We know that small actions, done consistently, lead to real change. By making recycling a normal part of how we operate, we’re reinforcing the kind of habits that we believe in, habits that don’t just improve physical health but contribute to a healthier environment and community as a whole.”

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