Former Wales captain Mike ‘Spikey’ Watkins has died at the age of 73. The ex-Cardiff and Newport hooker earned four caps for his nation in 1984, having waited until he was 32 to make his Test bow against Ireland. All four of his long-awaited caps were, remarkably, as captain.

Watkins died in Bangkok, where he had been living for approximately two decades. It’s understood he had recently suffered a serious fall that required surgery. Announcing the news, the Dragons paid tribute, posting on social media: “Everyone at Dragons RFC is deeply saddened by the passing of Mike ‘Spike’ Watkins. A true Man of Gwent, who played for Newport RFC, Crumlin and Monmouthshire, and captained Wales on his debut. Uncompromising and a leader on the field, hugely popular character off it.”

Watkins had played rugby from an early age in the Newport region, representing teams such as Cwmcarn Youth, Gwent Schools and South Monmouthshire Schools. Following two seasons with Crumlin, Watkins moved to Cardiff. He went on to feature in 118 matches for the club between 1976 and 1981.

During his stint at the Arms Park, he secured his first Wales trial in 1977. The following year, he was selected for the Welsh tour of Australia – although he wasn’t picked for either Test. He remained on the substitutes’ bench behind Bobby Windsor for 17 Wales Tests without featuring, whilst he was also chosen for Wales B on multiple occasions throughout the 1970s.

Nevertheless, he would be forced to wait until 1984 before earning his maiden full cap. By that stage, he was representing Newport, turning out 229 times for the Welsh side between 1981 and 1987. Watkins became only the fourth Welshman at that time to be given the captaincy on his debut, as Wales emerged 18-9 winners against Ireland at Lansdowne Road.”

I got selected with the help of the press and supporters and, in particular, Charlie Faulkner, who was my coach at Newport at the time,” he told WalesOnline in 2020.

“Charlie wouldn’t let me give up hope. He used to say ‘Look, you are a lot younger than when I had my first cap’. He lobbied and lobbied and lobbied. He was a great ally. It had been a long wait. I was 32. I can say that now.

“I wouldn’t say it at the time. I would tell them I was about 29. I used to be a bit vague. Charlie always told me to lie about my age. He would say ‘Don’t ever be over 29 mind, because the b*******s won’t pick you. They will write you off’. He was very protective like that.”

Watkins also guided the national team to a triumph over England at Twickenham the following month, while there were additional appearances as captain against France and Australia, plus an uncapped fixture versus a WRU Presidents’ XV, before his international career concluded.

Watkins featured twice for the Barbarians in 1984, whilst he just missed out on selection for the 1980 British and Irish Lions tour.

“In all seriousness, the one real regret would be not going on the Lions tour to South Africa in 1980,” he told WalesOnline previously. I was first choice in Cardiff and yet Alan Phillips got picked to go.

“That was down to RH Williams. When we were out in France for a Wales B game, the boys were messing about with bottles and I told them to stop and took the bottles, but one of them fell. RH looked over and thought I was to blame.

“Before he died, he told me he was the one that had blocked my path to go on the Lions trip. He said he was sorry and that he knew me better by then and I was a good guy.”

Following his playing career, he enjoyed coaching stints with Pontypridd, Rumney, and Newbridge before relocating to Thailand in later years, after meeting his wife, Maew. Ex-Newport full-back and BBC Scrum V pundit Phil Steele offered his condolences on social media, writing: “So very sad to hear of the death in Thailand of former Wales hooker Mike ‘Spike’ Watkins.

“A lionhearted player and great character – the best captain I ever played under. The type of bloke I thought would live forever. RIP.”