Mike would help
feed the calves on
his parents’ farm
when he was
growing up.
PICTURE:
Debbie James.
t’s milking time at Parc-yr- farm,’’ Trevor recalls. I am sure Whitland RFC, and he was when Joe Calzaghe defeated
Abbott Farm, near St Clears, he would have encouraged me spotted by a scout for Llanelli Mikkel Kessler and claimed theI
and Wales scrum-half Mike had there been the money in Scarlets. They signed him up super middleweight crown at
Phillips has just appeared in the the game that there is today, but and he earned his first cap with Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.
farmyard wearing flip-flops and the opportunities just weren’t the Wales under-21s. A third brother, Robert, an
shorts. there.” He has now been playing accountant, is also an
He is clearly not intending to Unusually, Mike didn’t show professionally for five years – accomplished rugby player.
help brother, Mark, milk the signs of developing into the after leaving the Scarlets he Dad Trevor admits he gets
herd this afternoon, but since he world class player he is now at spent two years with Cardiff anxious whenever he watches
is recuperating from major knee an early age. Although he was before he was offered a his sons compete. And that was
surgery his reason for excusing captain of the school team he reported £180,000-a-year deal true in the final game of the Six
himself from the parlour today is missed out on being selected to at Ospreys. National Championship this
a genuine one. play for the Wales Youth under- He was hit by the cruel reality of year.
When Mike was growing up on 18s. I was a late developer but life just a week after Wales’ People kept telling me that I
the farm he harboured as I got older my game Grand Slam victory when he must be proud that Michael was
aspirations to be a top flight improved,” he says. suffered a knee injury that will playing for his country but I was
rugby player but only in his He had huge encouragement keep him out of action until too anxious and nervous to feel
wildest dreams did he believe from his parents despite the ties September. He damaged two proud. I can honestly say that I
that one day he would be of their dairy farm. They ligaments in the Ospreys’ EDF get anxious at every game,” he
playing for his country. supported me all the way and Energy Cup semi-final win over says.
Not only has he achieved that would come to the matches as Saracens at the Millennium The family had been passionate
but he was a star player in the often as they could,” says Mike. Stadium. Scarlets supporters but,
Welsh team which clinched the They were very keen for me to It was a tough blow for Mike but following Mike’s transfer to
2008 Six Nations Grand Slam – do my own thing, there was he is philosophical. These things Ospreys, they have
and his transfer from Cardiff never any pressure for me to happen but I’m aiming to be fit understandably shifted
Blues to Ospreys last year farm.” before the autumn and I hope allegiance. Mike is always
confirmed him as one of the Mike loved growing up in the to be picked to play for the pleased to see his parents and
top-paid players in Wales. His countryside but it was the space British Lions,” he says. brothers in the crowd and he
love of rugby was encouraged the farm gave him to practice Mike is not the only member of appreciates that he probably
by his father, Trevor, who was his ball skills that he appreciated the Phillips family to play sport wouldn’t be in the position he is
also a very talented player. But, more than the animals. professionally. Although his today without their support.
the constraints of farming and My eldest brother, Mark, was brother, Mark, has taken over I don’t think my parents
the absence of money in the always much more interested in the dairy farm from his parents, expected that I would play for
game when Trevor was a young farming than I was. It is only he still boxes professionally. Wales, it all seemed to happen
man, cut short his rugby playing now that I appreciate what a When farming was going overnight,” he says. But I’m
days at 16. great childhood we had on the through a difficult time it was a there now and I am very lucky
My father stopped me playing farm,” he says. good source of extra income,” to be playing rugby for a living.
when I left school because he Mike’s big break came when he says Mark. I don’t think playing rugby is
needed me at home on the was playing for his local team, Only last year was he on the bill half as hard as farming!”
Pembrokeshire County Living 49
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64