Another North Wales rugby stalwart has put pen to paper to name his North Wales Dream Team/Squad. Mike has been at the forefront of the development of our referees for some time and as his profile shows what a great servant to rugby he has been over the years.

Rugby Profile – Mike Winter WRU Advisor

• Started playing at Holywell Grammar School as a scrum half – captain of year teams throughout school.
• Played for Rhyl RFC while still at school, first played for the 1st team at the age of 14 years of age – in the centre- also captaining the 2nd XV for a couple of seasons.
• Became a founder member of Halkyn RFC in the late 60’s, and for the first two seasons captained the 2nd XV after returning from surgery to both knees. By now operating mainly at No8, but over these two seasons actually played in every position.
• Early 70’s the club moved to Flint and changed their name to Delyn – today known as Flint RFC.
• Mid 70’s while recovering from shoulder injury, I took the WRU exam for referees – and passed, but continued playing for a few seasons.
• Late 70’s I made the full break from playing and began refereeing full time.
• Things went quite well, and I moved through the grades quite quickly, and eventually became the first referee from North Wales to be appointed as Grade 1.
• 1991/92 season I was appointed to the 5 Nations Exchange Level, and had my first game – Melrose v Jedforest in November 1991.
• Many – many big games along the way, particularly refereeing Jonah Lomu in North Wales in his 2nd ever game in Britain, his first was Ieuan Evan’s testimonial at Stradey Park.
• I began to assess in the late 90’s when the game turned professional. I was a coach at first, and then became an advisor, mainly with the Grade 3 Group within Wales.
• During the 2009/10 season I was elected as President of the Welsh Society of Rugby Union Referees (W.S.R.U.R.) which was quite an honour.
• For the last three seasons I have been attached to the Premier and Championship advisory group, but of course I still have numerous appointments in North Wales – I couldn’t ask for more.

Mike Winter’ North Wales XV Dream Team

•1 Gwyn Harries – Wrexham (C)
•2 Robin McBride – Mold
•3 Neil Ashworth – Colwyn Bay
•4 Mike Roberts – Colwyn Bay
•5 Andy Moore – Wrexham
•6 Mike Leach – Colwyn Bay
•7 Tony Gray – Bangor
•8 David Gray – Bangor

•9 David Cheesbrough – Wrexham
•10 John Hughes – Ruthin
•11 Terry Gleave – Wrexham
•12 Chris Pratt – Rhyl
•13 Tegid Philips – Ruthin
•14 Keith Lyons – Ruthin
•15 Mike Smith – Ruthin

• Ian Buckett – Delyn
• Graham Moffat – Rhyl
• Caradog Wyn Jones – Delyn
• John Gower Hughes – Ruthin
• Derek Williams – Wrexham
• Emrys Evans – Nant Conwy
• Eric Morris – Wrexham
• Chris Neville – Llandudno
• Graham Williams – Ruthin/Wrexham
• Tudor Hughes - Ruthin