The transfer from Crumlin to Cardiff noticed Watkins first catch the attention of the Wales selectors and he was chosen for the 1978 tour to Australia however didn’t play in both of the 2 Take a look at defeats to the Wallabies – and must wait one other six years to win his worldwide caps.
That was largely right down to the presence of Bobby Windsor, the Pontypool legend who was Wales’ first-choice hooker from 1973 to 1979 and gained 5 caps for the British and Irish Lions over two excursions.
In these days replacements had been solely used for accidents, and Watkins was left warming the Wales bench 17 instances with out profitable a cap – though he did play for the Wales B group a number of instances in the course of the ’70s.
Throughout these beginner days, for the majority of his profession Watkins labored for his father – a former Regimental Sergeant Main within the British military – as a truck driver.
When Windsor retired, Wales noticed the likes of Alan Phillips – Watkins’ Cardiff team-mate – as the person to take over the quantity two jersey.
Watkins lastly obtained his Take a look at probability in 1984 on the age of 32 with the nationwide group within the doldrums following the retirement of a string of the sport’s greats, who had been a part of Wales’ glittering sides of the ’70s.
Having proved his management by captaining a Newport aspect coached by Charlie Faulkner, after which main Wales B to a primary win of their historical past in France, Watkins was referred to as up for the 5 Nations sport away to Eire in February 1984.
He was additionally handed the Wales captaincy on debut and led the aspect to an 18-9 win in Dublin, then performed within the following defeat to France with Eddie Butler given the armband.
In March, Watkins was made skipper once more and guided Wales to a 24-15 victory over England at Twickenham within the last spherical of matches, with Wales ending third within the desk as Scotland claimed the Grand Slam.
Watkins performed his last Take a look at the next November in a loss in opposition to an Australia aspect who beat all 4 residence nations on their 1984 tour, whereas the hooker additionally made two appearances for the Barbarians in that yr.
On the finish of 1984, having waited so lengthy to play for his nation, Watkins determined to retire from worldwide rugby together with gamers together with Butler, Graham Value and fly-half Gareth Davies in protest and frustration at what they noticed as a flawed and muddled Wales choice coverage.
Later in life, Watkins emigrated to Thailand, working in PR and settling down along with his schoolteacher spouse Maew.
