Former Wales captain and Newport legend Mike ‘Spikey’ Watkins has died aged 73 in Bangkok.
Mike Watkins in 1978. (Picture: PA.)
Former Wales captain Mike ‘Spikey’ Watkins has died on the age of 73. The ex-Cardiff and Newport hooker earned 4 caps for his nation in 1984, having waited till he was 32 to make his Check bow in opposition to Eire. All 4 of his long-awaited caps had been, remarkably, as captain.
Watkins died in Bangkok, the place he had been dwelling for about twenty years. It is understood he had not too long ago suffered a critical fall that required surgical procedure. Saying the information, the Dragons paid tribute, posting on social media: “Everybody at Dragons RFC is deeply saddened by the passing of Mike ‘Spike’ Watkins. A real Man of Gwent, who performed for Newport RFC, Crumlin and Monmouthshire, and captained Wales on his debut. Uncompromising and a pacesetter on the sphere, vastly common character off it.”
Watkins had performed rugby from an early age within the Newport area, representing groups akin to Cwmcarn Youth, Gwent Faculties and South Monmouthshire Faculties. Following two seasons with Crumlin, Watkins moved to Cardiff. He went on to function in 118 matches for the membership between 1976 and 1981.
Throughout his stint on the Arms Park, he secured his first Wales trial in 1977. The next yr, he was chosen for the Welsh tour of Australia – though he wasn’t picked for both Check. He remained on the substitutes’ bench behind Bobby Windsor for 17 Wales Assessments with out that includes, while he was additionally chosen for Wales B on a number of events all through the Nineteen Seventies.
Nonetheless, he could be compelled to attend till 1984 earlier than incomes his maiden full cap. By that stage, he was representing Newport, turning out 229 occasions for the Welsh aspect between 1981 and 1987. Watkins grew to become solely the fourth Welshman at the moment to be given the captaincy on his debut, as Wales emerged 18-9 winners in opposition to Eire at Lansdowne Highway.”
I obtained chosen with the assistance of the press and supporters and, particularly, Charlie Faulkner, who was my coach at Newport on the time,” he instructed WalesOnline in 2020.
“Charlie would not let me surrender hope. He used to say ‘Look, you’re a lot youthful than after I had my first cap’. He lobbied and lobbied and lobbied. He was a terrific ally. It had been a protracted wait. I used to be 32. I can say that now.
?????? Everybody at Dragons RFC is deeply saddened by the passing of Mike ‘Spike’ Watkins.
A real Man of Gwent, who performed for @NewportRFC, Crumlin & Monmouthshire, and captained Wales on his debut.
Uncompromising & a pacesetter on the sphere, vastly common character off it.#RIPSpike pic.twitter.com/f8R6qCW3DT
— Dragons RFC ?????? (@dragonsrfc) November 25, 2025
“I would not say it on the time. I might inform them I used to be about 29. I was a bit obscure. Charlie all the time instructed me to lie about my age. He would say ‘Do not ever be over 29 thoughts, as a result of the b*******s will not decide you. They are going to write you off’. He was very protecting like that.”
Watkins additionally guided the nationwide workforce to a conquer England at Twickenham the next month, whereas there have been extra appearances as captain in opposition to France and Australia, plus an uncapped fixture versus a WRU Presidents’ XV, earlier than his worldwide profession concluded.
Watkins featured twice for the Barbarians in 1984, while he simply missed out on choice for the 1980 British and Irish Lions tour.
“In all seriousness, the one actual remorse could be not happening the Lions tour to South Africa in 1980,” he instructed WalesOnline beforehand. I used to be first alternative in Cardiff and but Alan Phillips obtained picked to go.
“That was all the way down to RH Williams. Once we had been out in France for a Wales B sport, the boys had been messing about with bottles and I instructed them to cease and took the bottles, however one in all them fell. RH seemed over and thought I used to be responsible.
“Earlier than he died, he instructed me he was the one which had blocked my path to go on the Lions journey. He stated he was sorry and that he knew me higher by then and I used to be a great man.”
Following his enjoying profession, he loved teaching stints with Pontypridd, Rumney, and Newbridge earlier than relocating to Thailand in later years, after assembly his spouse, Maew. Ex-Newport full-back and BBC Scrum V pundit Phil Steele supplied his condolences on social media, writing: “So very unhappy to listen to of the demise in Thailand of former Wales hooker Mike ‘Spike’ Watkins.
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“A lionhearted participant and nice character – the most effective captain I ever performed below. The kind of bloke I assumed would dwell perpetually. RIP.”
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