Mike Ruddock
Encyclopedia
Mike Ruddock, OBE
(born 5 September 1959 in Blaina
) is a Welsh
rugby union
coach, currently coach of the Ireland Under-20 Rugby Union Team
and Lansdowne FC . Ruddock was the coach of the Worcester Warriors until his resignation on 28 April 2010 following their relegation from the Guinness Premiership
. Previously, Ruddock was the coach of the Welsh national
rugby union
team from 2004 until February 2006 and Leinster Coach
from 1997 to 2000
, Tredegar
and Swansea
, making 119 appearances for Swansea and scoring 43 tries.
He also played for Wales under-16s and Wales B, but his playing days were ended prematurely by an accident at work in 1985. Working as an electricity linesman, he fell from a pole, suffering serious injuries including three compressed vertebrae and a fractured skull.
, and later coached Cross Keys
and had a spell in Ireland
with Bective Rangers
. As coach of Swansea
, he recorded a 21–6 win over the touring Australia
ns in 1992 and won Welsh league
titles in 1992 and 1994 and the Welsh Cup
in 1995. In 1997, he again moved to Ireland
as director of coaching at Leinster
.
Returning to Wales
in 2000, he coached Ebbw Vale
and Wales 'A'
then coached Newport Gwent Dragons
with considerable success.
to face Romania
in the run up to the 2003 Rugby World Cup
, a match which Wales
won 54–8 – their first win in 11 games.
In 2004, Steve Hansen
left his post as coach of the Welsh national side
to return to New Zealand
, and Ruddock was appointed to the job. In his first season, Wales
completed the Grand Slam
in the Six Nations Championship
for the first time since 1978. He received an OBE in the 2006 New Years Honours List.
On 14 February 2006, Ruddock resigned as coach of the Welsh National Team when contract negotiations with the WRU broke down.
, but soon returned to the game as coach of Mumbles RFC
in the Welsh lower leagues, also taking charge of a World XV and coaching the forwards of a Barbarians
select team. During his coaching career Ruddock won the Welsh Coach of the Year in 1992 and 2005.
, Worcester Warriors appointed Ruddock as Director of Rugby, replacing John Brain. Following the Warriors 12-10 defeat to Leeds Carnegie on 25 April 2010, the Worcester were relegated from the Guinness Premiership
, and Mike Ruddock subsequently resigned from his post as Director of Rugby on the 28th of April.
.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 5 September 1959 in Blaina
Blaina
Blaina is a small town, situated deep within the South Wales Valleys between Brynmawr and Abertillery in the unitary authority of Blaenau Gwent, ancient parish of Aberystruth, preserved county of Gwent and historic county of Monmouthshire.-Notable people:...
) is a Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
coach, currently coach of the Ireland Under-20 Rugby Union Team
Ireland national under-20 rugby union team
The Ireland under 20 rugby team was formed in 2006. In 2007 they won the Grand Slam at the under 20 Six Nations. The current coach is Mike Ruddock.-Current squad:Squad at the 2011 IRB Junior World Championship .-External links:* at Irish Rugby.ie...
and Lansdowne FC . Ruddock was the coach of the Worcester Warriors until his resignation on 28 April 2010 following their relegation from the Guinness Premiership
Guinness Premiership
The English Premiership, also currently known as the Aviva Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Aviva, is a professional league competition for rugby union football clubs in the top division of the English rugby system. There are twelve clubs in the Premiership...
. Previously, Ruddock was the coach of the Welsh national
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
team from 2004 until February 2006 and Leinster Coach
Leinster Rugby
Leinster Rugby, usually referred to simply as Leinster, is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Dublin, representing the Irish province of Leinster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro 12 and also competes in the Heineken Cup...
from 1997 to 2000
Playing career
Ruddock played in the back row for BlainaBlaina RFC
Blaina Rugby Football Club are a Welsh rugby union club based in Blaina in the county borough of Blaenau Gwent in Wales. They presently play in the Welsh Rugby Union Division Three East league and are a feeder club for the Newport Gwent Dragons.- History :...
, Tredegar
Tredegar RFC
Tredegar Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team based in Tredegar. The club was founded in 1893 but at that time played under the name Tredegar Harriers. The club is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is a feeder club for the Newport Gwent Dragons....
and Swansea
Swansea RFC
Swansea Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team which plays in the Welsh Premier Division. Its home ground is St Helens Rugby and Cricket Ground in Swansea. The team is sometimes known as The Whites because of the primary colour of the team strip...
, making 119 appearances for Swansea and scoring 43 tries.
He also played for Wales under-16s and Wales B, but his playing days were ended prematurely by an accident at work in 1985. Working as an electricity linesman, he fell from a pole, suffering serious injuries including three compressed vertebrae and a fractured skull.
Club rugby
He began his career as a coach at BlainaBlaina RFC
Blaina Rugby Football Club are a Welsh rugby union club based in Blaina in the county borough of Blaenau Gwent in Wales. They presently play in the Welsh Rugby Union Division Three East league and are a feeder club for the Newport Gwent Dragons.- History :...
, and later coached Cross Keys
Cross Keys RFC
Cross Keys RFC is a rugby union club located in the Welsh village of Crosskeys. The club is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is a feeder club for the Newport Gwent Dragons.- History :...
and had a spell in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
with Bective Rangers
Bective Rangers
Bective Rangers is a rugby union club in Dublin, Ireland founded in 1881.The Club is affiliated to the Leinster Branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union and play in Division 2 of the All Ireland League....
. As coach of Swansea
Swansea RFC
Swansea Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team which plays in the Welsh Premier Division. Its home ground is St Helens Rugby and Cricket Ground in Swansea. The team is sometimes known as The Whites because of the primary colour of the team strip...
, he recorded a 21–6 win over the touring Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
ns in 1992 and won Welsh league
Welsh Premier Division
The Welsh Premier Division is a rugby union league in Wales first implemented by the Welsh Rugby Union for the 1990–91 season.-Competition history:...
titles in 1992 and 1994 and the Welsh Cup
WRU Challenge Cup
The WRU Challenge Cup , or its full name of the Welsh Rugby Union Challenge Cup, is Wales' premier knockout rugby union competition and is organised by the Welsh Rugby Union....
in 1995. In 1997, he again moved to Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
as director of coaching at Leinster
Leinster Rugby
Leinster Rugby, usually referred to simply as Leinster, is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Dublin, representing the Irish province of Leinster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro 12 and also competes in the Heineken Cup...
.
Returning to Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
in 2000, he coached Ebbw Vale
Ebbw Vale RFC
Ebbw Vale Rugby Football Club is a Welsh Rugby Union Club based in the town of Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent, South Wales. The club currently play in the WRU Division One East and the SWALEC Cup. It also acts as a feeder club for the Newport Gwent Dragons....
and Wales 'A'
Wales A national rugby union team
The Wales A team are the second national rugby union team behind the Welsh national side. They have not played a game since April 2002.On the 20th February 2003, the Welsh Rugby Union were given permission to withdraw from the "A" team Six Nations Championship, citing costs as the primary reason...
then coached Newport Gwent Dragons
Newport Gwent Dragons
Newport Gwent Dragons are one of the four professional Rugby Union regional teams in Wales. They are jointly owned by Newport RFC and the Welsh Rugby Union and play all their home games at Rodney Parade, Newport. They play in the RaboDirect Pro12, the Anglo-Welsh Cup and the Heineken Cup...
with considerable success.
Wales national rugby union team
Ruddock was given control of the Wales teamWales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
to face Romania
Romania national rugby union team
The Romania national rugby union team , nicknamed The Oaks , is the representative side of Romania in rugby union. Long considered one of the stronger European teams outside the Six Nations, they have participated in all six Rugby World Cups, and currently compete in the first division of the...
in the run up to the 2003 Rugby World Cup
2003 Rugby World Cup
The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth Rugby World Cup and was won by England. Originally planned to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, all games were shifted to Australia following a contractual dispute over ground signage rights between the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Rugby World...
, a match which Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
won 54–8 – their first win in 11 games.
In 2004, Steve Hansen
Steve Hansen
Steve Hansen is a New Zealand rugby union coach and former player.He was the head coach of the Welsh national team. He became the ninth Welsh coach in 13 years, after Graham Henry parted company with the Welsh Rugby Union in 2002. During his first game in charge, Wales performed well but lost by...
left his post as coach of the Welsh national side
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
to return to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, and Ruddock was appointed to the job. In his first season, Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
completed the Grand Slam
Grand Slam (Rugby Union)
In rugby union, a Grand Slam occurs when one team in the Six Nations Championship manages to beat all the others during one year's competition...
in the Six Nations Championship
Six Nations Championship
The Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
for the first time since 1978. He received an OBE in the 2006 New Years Honours List.
On 14 February 2006, Ruddock resigned as coach of the Welsh National Team when contract negotiations with the WRU broke down.
Post Welsh national coach
Ruddock temporarily left rugby following his departure from the Wales teamWales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
, but soon returned to the game as coach of Mumbles RFC
Mumbles RFC
Mumbles Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team based in Mumbles, Swansea, south Wales. Mumbles RFC is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is a feeder club for the Ospreys.-Club history:...
in the Welsh lower leagues, also taking charge of a World XV and coaching the forwards of a Barbarians
Barbarian F.C.
The Barbarian Football Club, usually referred to as the Barbarians and nicknamed the "Baa-Baas", is an invitational rugby union team based in Britain...
select team. During his coaching career Ruddock won the Welsh Coach of the Year in 1992 and 2005.
Worcester
Ruddock's return to the mainstream was announced on 1 May 2007, when, two days after their narrow escape from relegation from the Guinness PremiershipGuinness Premiership
The English Premiership, also currently known as the Aviva Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Aviva, is a professional league competition for rugby union football clubs in the top division of the English rugby system. There are twelve clubs in the Premiership...
, Worcester Warriors appointed Ruddock as Director of Rugby, replacing John Brain. Following the Warriors 12-10 defeat to Leeds Carnegie on 25 April 2010, the Worcester were relegated from the Guinness Premiership
Guinness Premiership
The English Premiership, also currently known as the Aviva Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Aviva, is a professional league competition for rugby union football clubs in the top division of the English rugby system. There are twelve clubs in the Premiership...
, and Mike Ruddock subsequently resigned from his post as Director of Rugby on the 28th of April.
Ireland U-20
It was announced on 4 August 2010 that Ruddock was appointed as head coach of the Ireland Under-20 Rugby Union TeamIreland national under-20 rugby union team
The Ireland under 20 rugby team was formed in 2006. In 2007 they won the Grand Slam at the under 20 Six Nations. The current coach is Mike Ruddock.-Current squad:Squad at the 2011 IRB Junior World Championship .-External links:* at Irish Rugby.ie...
.