- Mike Phillips (rugby player)
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Mike Phillips Full name William Michael Phillips Date of birth 29 August 1982 Place of birth Bancyfelin, Carmarthenshire, Wales Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Weight 16 st 5 lb (104 kg) Rugby union career Playing career Position Scrum-half Professional / senior clubs Years Club / team Caps (points) Carmarthen RFC correct as of 14 June 2011 (UTC). Provincial/State sides Years Club / team Caps (points) 2002–2005
2005–2007
2007–2011
2011-Llanelli Scarlets
Cardiff Blues
Ospreys
Bayonne51
45
58
0(56)
(25)
(15)
0correct as of 10:17, 12 Sep 2011 (UTC). National team(s) Years Club / team Caps (points) 2003–
2009Wales
British and Irish Lions60
3(40)
(5)correct as of 13:17, 21 Oct 2011 (UTC). William Michael "Mike" Phillips (born 29 August 1982) is a Welsh international rugby union rugby player who plays at scrum-half for Bayonne.
Contents
Personal life
The third son of dairy farmer Trevor and teacher Morfydd, Phillips was born and raised on the family farm between Bancyfelin and St Clears. His middle brother became Welsh amateur boxing champion before fighting professionally, while his eldest brother Rob was a scrum-half with Whitland RFC, where Mike also spent his late teenage years as both a blind and open side flanker.[1]
Phillips then moved to Carmarthen RFC as a flanker, before playing scrum-half; at 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m),[2] he is one of the tallest scrum halves in international rugby.[citation needed] Being tall and powerful, unusual properties in a scrum half, he also has a combative style to his game. Because of this combination, has been compared to ex-Wales international Terry Holmes.[3]
Phillips was dating Welsh singer, Aimee Duffy until May 2011, it is thought that they were together for 20 months.[4]
In October 2008 Phillips was hospitalised after an attack outside a Cardiff nightclub.[5] In June 2011 he was suspended from the Wales World Cup training squad after a late night incident in Cardiff.[6]
Career
Llanelli Scarlets
Phillips made his first appearance for the Scarlets at the age of 20, and remained there in spite of restrictions in first team appearances due to the performances of Dwayne Peel, until the summer of 2005.[7][8][9]
Cardiff Blues
Citing his lack of first team appearances as the main reason,[8][10] in 2005 Phillips signed for the Cardiff Blues starting most matches,[9] partnering fellow former Welsh Under21 player Nicky Robinson.
Ospreys
In February 2007, Phillips was linked with a move to Ospreys, on a basic wage of £180,000 as Cardiff Blues would not break their wage structure.[8][11] Having signed for Ospreys, at first he was the second-choice scrum-half as former All-Black Justin Marshall held the role. Following Marshall's departure to Montpellier Hérault RC, Phillips had the choice to make the position his own but for a knee ligament injury, allowing the emergence of new signing Jamie Nutbrown in the role.
Aviron Bayonnais
In June 2011, Phillips left the Ospreys and joined French club Bayonne[12]
International
Phillips represented Wales at Under 21 level where he played with fellow Cardiff player Nicky Robinson. In 2003 he made his Wales debut against Romania and scored a try.[13][14] Phillips toured Argentina[15] and South Africa in 2004, and also scored during the 2005 tour of USA[16] and Canada.[17]
His performances for the Blues saw him get into the Wales squad for the 2006 6 Nations, despite having a poor Autumn International where he started against New Zealand in a match that ended in a heavy defeat for Wales.
His first game came against Italy after Dwayne Peel, who had started the game at scrum-half was injured in the seventh minute. He also started against Les Bleus where he played extremely well, picking up the man of the match award. After a successful season with the Blues, he was picked for Wales’s tour to Argentina where he started both tests.[18][19]
Phillips made the squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup. He started one match against Japan in which he scored a try and won the man of the match award. In all the other games he came off the bench. But Wales had a very disappointing tournament, being knocked out by Fiji in the pool stages.
In 2008, Wales appointed a new coach, Warren Gatland, who liked Phillips' physical presence. He forced his way into the Welsh team against England, for the 2008 Six Nations. He scored the winning try as Wales claimed a 26–19 victory – their first at Twickenham in 20 years. Phillips started the next match against Scotland, which Wales won 30–15. Phillips was then replaced by Dwayne Peel for the match against Italy; however, he came on after 42 minutes after Peel was injured again, and made a significant impact as Wales thrashed the Azzuri 47–8. Phillips then started the match against Ireland. Wales made it four from four as they beat the Irish 16–12 to claim the triple crown. Phillips also started against France, as Wales claimed their second grand slam in four years with a 29–12 victory over Les Bleus. Phillips was one of six players nominated for player of the tournament. But his fellow Ospreys teammate, Shane Williams, won the award.
A week after the grand slam a knee ligament injury ruled him out for six months, meaning he would miss the tour of South Africa and the Autumn Internationals. But Phillips made a strong return and started all five matches in the 2009 Six Nations. He was named in the team of the tournament, but Wales finished a disappointing fourth after defeats to France and Ireland.
On 21 April 2009, Phillips was named as one of 13 Welsh players for the 2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa. And in 10 June 2009 he scored his first try for the Lions, contributing to their 39–3 victory against the Sharks. He also scored a try against the Springboks but the Lions lost 26–21, although they came back strongly after starting the second half 26–7 down. Phillips played in the next test, but the Lions lost again 28–25 thanks to a last-gasp penalty by Morne Steyn. Phillips played in the final test as well, and was only one of five players to play in all three tests. The Lions won their first test match since 2001 with a crunching 28–9 victory. Phillips' series was superb and he was one of the players of the tour.
On 12 March 2011, Phillips scored a controversial try against Ireland in the Six Nations. When Irish fly-half Jonathan Sexton kicked the ball out of play, Wales hooker Matthew Rees proceeded to take a quick line-out with a different ball to the one which Sexton kicked out of play, which is against International Rugby Board regulations. Rees took the throw and Phillips held off Irish winger Tommy Bowe to score in the corner. The try was allowed to stand, and Wales won the game 19-13.
References
- ^ Walsh, David (2009-01-11). "Tall order for Mike Phillips". London: The Times. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/rugby_union/article5488999.ece. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- ^ "Blues target scrum-half Phillips". BBC News. 17 December 2004. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/4105415.stm. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- ^ "Phillips passes Holmes' approval". BBC Sport. 2005-11-03. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/4403004.stm. Retrieved 2008-02-02.
- ^ [1]
- ^ Phillips drops charges
- ^ Phillips suspended
- ^ Llanelli Scarlets 17 Wasps 20 | Wasps v Sale : Wasps Fixtures, Results, Match Reports
- ^ a b c "Blues resigned to losing Phillips". BBC News. 23 February 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/cardiff_blues/6389159.stm. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- ^ a b "Blues capture scrum-half Phillips". BBC News. 8 February 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/4246743.stm. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- ^ Official Website of the British & Irish Lions Rugby Tour – player profile
- ^ "Concern at agents' fees in Wales". BBC News. 4 March 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/6417913.stm. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- ^ (French) "Mike Phillips jouera bien à Bayonne". le10sport.com. 6 June 2011. http://www.le10sport.com/Rugby/Top-14/Mike-Phillips-jouera-bien-a-Bayonne-060647878.html.
- ^ Welsh Rugby Union : Shane Strikes Twice To End Wales' Losing Run
- ^ "Wales win at last". BBC News. 27 August 2003. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/3179369.stm. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- ^ "Phillips relishes Pichot struggle". BBC News. 10 June 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/5067442.stm. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- ^ "USA 3–77 Wales". BBC News. 4 June 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/4605969.stm. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- ^ "Canada 3–60 Wales". BBC News. 11 June 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/4078460.stm. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- ^ "Argentina 27–25 Wales". BBC News. 11 June 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/5063934.stm. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- ^ Welsh Rugby Union : Argentina clinch series
External links
Wales squad – 2007 Rugby World Cup Forwards Bennett · Charvis · Evans · Gough · Horsman · James, W. · Jenkins, Gethin · Jones, A. · Jones, A. W. · Jones, D. · Owen · Popham · Rees · Thomas, J. · Thomas, R. · Williams, M.Backs Coach Forwards Backs Brew · Byrne · J Davies · Halfpenny · Hook · S Jones · Knoyle · North · Phillips · Priestland · Roberts · L Williams · Scott Williams · Shane WilliamsCoach Aviron Bayonnais squad Forwards Backs Coach GajanCategories:- 1982 births
- Living people
- People from Carmarthenshire
- Rugby union scrum-halves
- Welsh rugby union players
- Wales international rugby union players
- Llanelli Scarlets players
- Cardiff Blues players
- Ospreys (rugby team) players
- British and Irish Lions rugby union players from Wales
- Welsh-speaking people
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