A thinner Mike Ruddock, in his early years as a labourer at Swalec

In his early 20s, the Wales team coach worked as a labourer for Swalec, then he trained as a linesman, working on the lines between electricity poles.

It was while working in that job in Nantyglo, Blaenau Gwent, one night that he was seriously injured after being knocked off a ladder by a lorry.

It meant the end of his burgeoning playing career.

But it was also the catalyst for his move in to coaching. And the rest as they say, is history.

For some, Ruddock's rise through the ranks of Welsh rugby was only a matter of time.

You felt you were one of the gang under Mike - he was very motivational and very encouraging and gave a young player like myself a lot of confidence Darryn Parry

Retired electrical engineer Derek Powell, 65, has kept in touch with the Wales coach since Ruddock's first days in Swalec overalls.

"He started off as a labourer for us. He was a very quiet chap, but very efficient and sensible," said Mr Powell.

"He did not stand out in the crowd, he just got on with physical work. If Mike had not had the accident, he would have had a Welsh cap.

Ruddock had ambitions to lead the Wales team, says Derek Powell

By chance, Mr Powell was in the same hospital recovering from a cartilage operation when Ruddock was injured in the Nantyglo fall.

"I remember going up to see Mike. He'd had a serious injury. I would not have thought he was very happy, but Mike was always a positive person."

One of the first to come under Ruddock's coaching wing was Darryn Parry, an 18 year old in Cross Keys' senior team when Ruddock took over the reins in 1984.

Mr Parry, now a director for a construction firm, said: "He was very inspirational, and very much a do-er and a show-er in his coaching."

Tremendous enthusiasm

He remembers the team spirit Ruddock generated: "You felt you were one of the gang under Mike. He was very motivational and very encouraging and gave a young player like myself a lot of confidence."

He added that Ruddock always approached the game from a forward-orientated viewpoint, having played his rugby as No 6 at Tredegar and then at Swansea and achieving a B Cap for Wales.

Mr Parry said "It was a shame he was lost as a player. But he took the tremendous enthusiasm he had and brought it to his coaching."

'Man management'

One of the first clubs to benefit from this was Bective Rangers, in south Dublin.

Former director of rugby, Louis Magee, said: "I think we all knew here he would become a really fine coach and we hoped he would be an international coach."

Mr Magee said the Wales team coach's man-management skills were "outstanding".

Derek Powell said that he knew Ruddock always harboured desires to coach the Welsh squad.

He said he spoke to him at a Swansea-Cardiff game just before Ruddock left to work in Ireland.

"I said 'we won't have our meetings now, then' and he said, 'don't worry, I'll be back. I will be coming back to Wales'."