Life after Mumbles
Last updated: 28th September 2007
I think I once went on record saying that in Wales we had 18,000 registered players and three million registered Welsh selectors
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The Rugby Club travelled down to Worcester to speak to Mike Ruddock about his new role at Sixways.
Two seasons ago Ruddock could do no wrong as he coached wales to their first ever Grand Slam since 1978.
Eleven months later, Ruddock resigned from the job amidst rumours of player rifts and unrest that were strongly denied by Ruddock and the WRU.
Whatever the reason for Ruddock's shock departure, he rekindled his love for rugby in Wales division three south west as assistant coach with Mumbles RFC.
"I would not say I was disillusioned, but I had been coaching for 20m years and every know and again you need to take a little bit of time out from the intensity of top class rugby," explained Ruddock on The Rugby Club.
"Graham Henry did it before he went into the All Blacks after his stint with Wales.
"It is a demanding role coaching the Wales team and I was pleased to take some time out and enjoy rugby for rugby's sake.
"To put away the video analysis and just turn up on a Tuesday and Thursday night do a bit of coaching with the lads, watch them play on Saturday and have a beer with them afterwards. It was really good."
Following their narrow escape from relegation, Worcester announced Ruddock as Director of Rugby and he is thoroughly enjoying the role.
"The family has adjusted really well and so have I," said a relaxed Ruddock.
"It can be very much a goldfish bowl in Wales and everyone has an opinion.
"I think I once went on record saying that in Wales we had 18,000 registered players and three million registered Welsh selectors.
"They love their rugby and are great people but it is nice to be outside of Wales, especially in this situation because sometimes you can walk away from rugby and forget about it rather than bump into everyone who wants to talk about it.
"The good thing about club coaching is that it is day in day out involvement with the players which gives you the chance to build quality relationships.
"International rugby is very enjoyable but it is very challenging as you have certain windows to work with players before they go back to their regions or their clubs.
"It is tougher to build those daily relationships and to have the banter you have in a club environment which is pretty good here at Worcester.
In the past Worcester have relied on a solid forward platform to squeeze out wins but with Ruddock's vision of open play, they are hoping to expand their ten man game.
"These are some of the best defences in the world and this league is really tough and are hard to break down," explained Ruddock.
"But I think you have to be prepared to be bold in the modern game and be prepared to play some rugby and you have ask some questions of the defence and run different angles.
"I certainly don't want to undo everything here, as a fantastic job has been done in the past with the coaches and we are not going to tear up the script and turn this team into a Barbarians team.
"We want to keep the traditional factors of Worcester rugby -a big strong set piece and a well organised defence.
"But what we do want to do, and what the modern game demands, is to score points.
"We have to rely on plays and strategies that will help us get quick ball and to get a little wider when we can and attack space. This team can progress."
Worcester face the in form Gloucester this weekend, a team that are playing the type of rugby that Ruddock and Worcester aspire too.
Gloucester play a really good brand of rugby, similar to what we are looking to do ourselves.
"They are ahead of us, but saying that they have a new stand and we want to try and spoil their party down there and really front up and give them a hell of a game."
