RUDDOCK WINS SCW AWARD

RBS Six Nations winner Ruddock picked up the annual Sports Council for Wales Coach of the Year award after master-minding Wales’ first Grand Slam in 27 years. He said: “We’ve tried to breed a winning habit with Wales but it’s also important for us all to enjoy it as well.

“The one thing all coaches in professional sport have in common is that we all get sacked at some stage so you have to enjoy things while they last.

“That was the message to the players during the Six Nations and I think that was why we produced the style of entertaining rugby that won the title.

“But coaches only do so much. It’s the players who have to perform once they get out there and we had a great bunch of guys who made pretty easy for me.”

It is the second time Ruddock has won the award, following the prize for his work with Swansea RFC back in 1992. “Our Grand Slam success was testimony to the hard work and dedication that the squad and our coaches have put in behind the scenes over a number of years,” said Ruddock’s Grand Slam captain Gareth Thomas.

“The players owe a debt of gratitude to all the coaching staff including Mike, skills coach Scott Johnson, our defence coach Clive Griffiths and fitness coach Andrew Hore, as well as a long list of backroom staff.

“We welcome this reward as due recognition of the enormous contribution Mike has made as head coach to the collective success of this squad.

“I would like to congratulate him on behalf of the entire squad and backroom team as a worthy winner of this prestigious award.”