The Western Mail's chats to Wales scrum-half Mike Phillips abouthis new life in France.
"Of all the Welsh rugby stars you might expect to embrace the distinctive culture of French life, Mike Phillips is perhaps not one that immediately springs to mind.
"The image of Phillips taking in the views of the Adour river while nibbling on a freshly-baked croissant and quietly perusing the morning edition of L’Equipe simply doesn’t feel quite right.
"Throw in the abysmal form of the 29-year-old’s new club Bayonne, who currently lie rooted to the base of the Top 14, and the former Osprey’s glamour move across the channel has the makings of an unhappy marriage.
"The reality, however, could not be more different.
"Freed from the goldfish bowl of Welsh rugby that has scrutinised every performance and misdemeanour of the past, Phillips is experiencing the time of his life.
"For all the on-field troubles of Bayonne – and following a 50 – 10 pummelling against Toulon last weekend, those troubles clearly run deep – Wales’ No. 1 scrum-half has the type of contented, mischievous glint in his eye that led Warren Gatland to affectionately describe him as rugby’s “most confident and cocky” character last week."
RSS feed
