As a player he had representative honours both at schoolboy and senior levels (Welsh Schools; Wales B and the Welsh Squad in 1982-83); has represented Crawshays and at club level played for Blaina, Tredegar and most noticeably Swansea where he was player of the year in 1982.

Mike retired from playing in 1985 due to injury. It wasn’t long, however, until he took up coaching.  There is little argument that the pinnacle of Mike’s coaching achievements was the 2005 Welsh Grand Slam and, if the subsequent controversy over his departure from the national post has cast a small shadow over the glory of 2005, it is surely only a shadow on the WRU. The simple fact will always remain that Mike has joined an elite group of coaches to manage a team to a Grand Slam, not to mention a Welsh side whose thrilling play made the 2005 championship one of the most memorable of the modern rugby playing era.

Mike’s achievements as a coach have been recognized off the field where he has won a selection of rugby’s highest coaching awards:

• Welsh Coach of the year - 1992 and 2005
• Runner up - IRB Coach of the Year 2005
• Mussabini Medal for UK Coaching - 2005

On his “retirement” from rugby his considerable management and motivational skills were recognized by Acorn, Wales’ largest independent recruitment and training provider, and he is helping them build their business both in Wales and the rest of the country.

Mike was awarded an OBE in the 2006 New Year Honours List.