Former Wales hooker Watkins dies aged 73

Mike Watkins, a hooker from Wales, Cardiff, and Newport, passed away at the age of 73.

Watkins won four caps for his nation, as well.

Watkins was born in Abercarn, South Wales, and was first recognized for his combative nature while playing for nearby Crumlin RFC. He was also known as “Spikey.”

Watkins left Cardiff in 1976, playing 118 games until 1981, before moving to Newport, where he played 229 games before deciding to retire in 1987.

Watkins was chosen for the 1978 tour to Australia, but he did not play in the two Test defeats to the Wallabies, and he would have to wait another six years before winning his first international cap.

The presence of Bobby Windsor, the legendary Welsh hooker who won five caps for the British and Irish Lions on two separate occasions and was Wales’ first-choice hooker between 1973 and 1979, was largely responsible for that.

Watkins was left warming the Wales bench 17 times without winning a cap in those days, despite having played for the Wales B team numerous times in the 1970s.

Watkins spent the majority of his career working as a truck driver for his father, a former regimental sergeant major in the British army, during those amateur days.

Wales recognized Alan Phillips, Watkins’ Cardiff team-mate, as the man to take over the number two jersey when Windsor retired.

After retiring a number of the game’s great players, who had been a part of Wales’ glittering sides of the 1970s, Watkins finally had a chance to play for the national team in the doldrums in 1984 at the age of 32.

Watkins was chosen for the Five Nations game away to Ireland in February 1984 after demonstrating his leadership by leading a Newport side led by Charlie Faulkner, and then leading Wales B to their first ever victory in history in France.

He also received the armband as a debutant for Wales, led the team to an 18-9 victory in Dublin, and Eddie Butler was given the armband after the defeat to France.

In the final round of matches, Wales defeated England 24-15 at Twickenham in March, with Scotland winning the Grand Slam, finishing third overall.

Watkins lost to an Australia team that defeated all four home nations on their 1984 tour the following November, and the hooker also made two appearances for the Barbarians that year.

In protest and outrage over what they thought was a shoddy and hazy Wales selection policy, Watkins decided to retire from international rugby at the end of 1984 after waiting so long to play for his country along with players like Butler, Graham Price, and fly-half Gareth Davies.