 |
| Birth name | Michael Clive Teague | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 8 October 1960 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Gloucester, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 106 kg (16 st 10 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Churchdown School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Michael Clive Teague (born 8 October 1960) is an English rugby union player who played for the British Lions.
Teague was born and raised on a farm a few miles outside Gloucester. He attended Churchdown School.
Teague married his long term fiancée Lorraine in August 1989 after the British Lions tour to Australia, with his Gloucester back row colleague John Gadd as his best man. Teague has two children: a son, Alexander (b.1991); and a daughter, Melissa (b.1996). Teague also enjoys motorbike scrambling.
Teague spent his youth in The Shed watching Gloucester. After cutting his teeth with the local All Blues club, Teague joined the Cherry and Whites during the 1978–79 season aged 18 making 4 appearances, his debut coming at Kingsholm against Exeter University on 15 November 1978 in which he scored a try in a comfortable victory. He combined his rugby with his career as a fitter for the local water authority before becoming a builder in what was the amateur era, eventually setting up his own building firm with his brother-in-law. Known to Gloucester fans as 'Iron Mike' he played the majority of his club rugby for his home town club, but also had brief spells at Cardiff RFC [ citation needed ] for half a season and Stroud RFC with his close friend and Gloucester back row colleague John Gadd, before re-joining Gloucester on both occasions. During the later years of his senior rugby career he played for Moseley, before re-joining Gloucester once again to see out his playing days. Teague made a total of 291 appearances for Gloucester, winning the John Player Cup in 1982 (although they had to share the title with Moseley after a 12–12 draw in extra time – the only time the cup has ever been shared) and the John Smith's Merit Table in the 1985–1986 season. He was twice a runner up with Gloucester in National Courage League 1 (now the Premiership) in both the 1988–89 and 1989–90 seasons. He also played in the 1990 Pilkington Cup final defeat to Bath, scoring a try in both the 26–16 quarter final away win over Nottingham and the 17–12 semi final away win over Northampton that secured Gloucesters spot in the Twickenham showpiece. During the 1981–82 season he scored 21 tries, which remains the club's record for most tries scored by a forward in one season. He was sent off 3 times during his playing career, two of those red cards coming against local rivals Bath. His last game for Gloucester was against Harlequins at Kingsholm at the end of the 1994/95 season aged 34. At the start of the 1995–96 season Teague was appointed to the newly created post of team manager of the Gloucester first team.
Teague was selected to represent Gloucestershire on a number of occasions, starting on the bench against Somerset at Twickenham in the 1984 county championship final, which Gloucestershire won 36–18. Other notable games he was involved in for Gloucestershire include starting on the bench in the 1981–82 county championship semi final defeat to Lancashire at Kingsholm, starting on the bench in the 1982–83 county championship semi final victory over Surrey at the Memorial Ground, Bristol and starting at blind side flanker in the 1984–85 county championship semi final defeat to Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Derbyshire at the Memorial Ground, Bristol. Teague was also selected to represent the South West Division on a number of occasions.
Teague represented England at Under 23 level before playing his first England B game in the 20–10 win over France B in November 1981, winning a place in the England trial the following month. Teague made his test debut on 2 February 1985 aged 24, in the then five nations, as a substitute for Jon Hall in a 9–9 draw against France at Twickenham. He was then selected for England's final game of the tournament against Wales but the match was called off due to icy conditions and John Hall won his place back for the re-arranged fixture. Teague made his full test début on the summer tour of New Zealand the same year, playing in both test matches. He was not selected to represent England at any level for a further three years before playing for England B against Russia in 1988, eventually re-gaining his place in the full England team in a 12–12 draw with Scotland in the 1989 five nations. In order to bulk up and regain his place in the England team he trained every day with body builders in the local gym, as well as doing 'Mad Dog' training with Gloucester. That involved hill running, often at three-quarter pace, carrying logs and rocks. It was intense and he had to find the time for daily training between his work as a builder. He went on to play in 3 matches during the 1990 five nations and was a key member of England's Grand Slam team of 1991[ citation needed ], scoring the only try in England's 25–6 win against Wales in Cardiff on 19 January, England's first win in Cardiff for 28 years, as well as scoring against Ireland in England's victory in Dublin. In the same year he helped England reach the World Cup final, playing in five of England's six matches including the final, a narrow 12–6 defeat to Australia at Twickenham. The world cup final was his last appearance for a year; he sat out the 1992 Five Nations suffering from injury and exhaustion. However, he would reappear in England colours, playing against South Africa on their return to Twickenham after the sporting embargo had been lifted. His final England cap was against Ireland at Lansdowne Road in the 5 nations in 1993. England second row Paul Ackford christened Teague 'Iron Mike'[ citation needed ] at the time when Mike Tyson was world heavyweight champion. Teague played 27 times for his country, 19 times as blindside flanker and 8 times at number 8. He scored a total of 3 tries for England against New Zealand in Christchurch on 1 June 1985, Wales in Cardiff on 19 January 1991 and Ireland in Dublin on 2 March 1991.
Below is his international record for England:
Teague was selected for the Lions tour to Australia in 1989. Teague had drifted out of the picture for England until coming back into Lions contention as an ever-present for his country in 1988–89, only for a shoulder injury to rule him out of the first test. Without the injured Mike Teague for the opening test, the Lions suffered a 30–12 defeat in Sydney, their heaviest defeat by Australia. With the England loose-forward restored to the pack for the final two matches as the blindside flanker, they became the only Lions team ever to come from 1–0 down to win a series, winning the second test in Brisbane 19–12 and the third test in Sydney 19–18. Teague was named player of the series for his dynamic and destructive displays [ citation needed ] in the second and third tests.
During the 1989 British Lions tour to Australia, Teague played a total of six games for the tourists. These games were:
Teague finished his international career by making a second Lions tour to New Zealand in 1993, making his last international appearance as a substitute in the Lions 20–7 victory over New Zealand in Wellington on 26 June 1993. The Lions were unbeaten in all three tests Teague played for them during his career.
During the 1993 British Lions tour to New Zealand, Teague played a total of eight games for the tourists, scoring one try against Taranaki. These games were:
Teague was also selected to play for the Barbarians. He played a total of six games for the invitational side:
In 1989 Teague toured South Africa with a World XV. He started in the first of two IRB sanctioned tests played against South Africa to celebrate the centenary of the South African Rugby Board (SARB), a 20–19 defeat for the tourists at Newlands on 26 August 1989.
| Span | Match | Start | Sub | Points | Tries | Won | Lost | Draw | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Tests | 1985–1993 | 30 | 28 | 2 | 12 | 3 | 19 | 9 | 2 | 66.6 |
| England | 1985–1993 | 27 | 26 | 1 | 12 | 3 | 16 | 9 | 2 | 62.96 |
| British Lions | 1989–1993 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Rugby World Cup | 1991 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 60.00 |
| Five/Six Nations | 1985–1993 | 16 | 15 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 68.75 |
Barry John was a Welsh rugby union fly-half who played in the 1960s and early 1970s during the amateur era of the sport. John began his rugby career as a schoolboy playing for his local team Cefneithin RFC before switching to the first-class west Wales team Llanelli RFC in 1964. Whilst at Llanelli, John was selected for the Wales national team—as a replacement for David Watkins—to face a touring Australian team.
David John Duckham MBE was an English rugby union player. He played 36 games for England, in three tests on the 1971 British Lions tour to New Zealand and for Barbarians F.C. in their 1973 defeat of New Zealand.
John Taylor is a Welsh former rugby union player and current commentator. Nicknamed "Basil Brush" thanks to his wild hair and beard, he was born in Watford, Hertfordshire, and played as a flanker for London Welsh, and represented Wales 26 times between 1967 and 1973.
Philip John Vickery MBE DL is a former English rugby union tighthead prop and member of the England squad. He was a member of England's World Cup winning squad in 2003, playing in all seven matches in the tournament, and is a former England captain. Vickery ended his club rugby career at London Wasps, joining the London side in 2006 after eleven years with Gloucester Rugby. Given the nickname "Raging Bull", he played in three Rugby World Cups, including as England captain in the 2007 tournament, and toured Australia and South Africa with the British & Irish Lions. Made his debut for Bolingey Barbarians Sunday 25th Sept 2022 vs Bude vets.
Jason Leonard is an English former rugby union player. He won a then-record 114 caps for England men’s rugby team during a 14-year international career.
Gregor Peter John Townsend is a Scottish professional rugby union coach and former player who has been coaching the Scotland national team since 2017.
Michael Edward Harrison in Barnsley, West Riding of Yorkshire) is a former first-class rugby union footballer, playing on the wing for Wakefield and England.
Ciaran Fitzgerald is an Irish former rugby union player. He captained Ireland to the Triple Crown in 1982 and 1985, and the Five Nations Championship in 1983. Fitzgerald also captained the Lions on their 1983 tour. After the conclusion of his playing career, Fitzgerald was coach of the national team.
Chris Oti is an English former rugby union player. He was a rugby winger of prodigious pace who represented England thirteen times between 1988 and 1991. He was a member of the England squad that appeared in the 1991 Rugby World Cup during which he made two appearances. Chris Oti is married with 3 children.
Philippe Georges Saint-André is a former French rugby union footballer and was most recently the manager of Top 14 side Montpellier. He earned 69 test caps for France between 1990 and 1997. His preferred position was wing but he could also play at centre. After retiring, Saint-André has found success as a rugby coach in both England and France. He was serving as director of rugby at Toulon before being announced as the successful candidate for head coach of France from 2011 to 2015. He formally took charge of the national team on 1 December 2011, and left his post on 17 October 2015 following a 13–62 loss to New Zealand.
Michael Alan Burton is a former English rugby union footballer, who won a reputation as an uncompromising prop forward for Gloucester, England and the British and Irish Lions.
Ian Stephens is a former Wales international rugby union player. A prop who toured twice with the British & Irish Lions, visiting South Africa in 1980 and New Zealand in 1983. At the time, he played club rugby for Bridgend RFC. Ian was a tough, hard-nosed prop who had the rare ability to play both sides of the scrum at the highest level, though his preferred position was loosehead. Ian is also known as Ike or Ikey.
Jamie Huw Roberts is a Welsh former professional rugby union player, who played as a centre.
Stephen Leigh Halfpenny is a Welsh rugby union player who plays as a fullback or wing for Harlequins in the English Premiership. Halfpenny is the third highest points scorer for Wales after Neil Jenkins and Stephen Jones.
William Rex Willis was a Welsh international rugby union scrum-half who played club rugby for Cardiff and invitational rugby for the Barbarians. He won 21 caps for Wales and was selected to play in the British Lions on the 1950 tour of Australia and New Zealand.
Colin Edward Smart is a former international rugby union player, who played as a prop, from Highbury, London, England.
David Young is a Welsh rugby union coach and former rugby union and rugby league player. He was most recently director of rugby at Cardiff Blues.
Gordon Rimmer was an English rugby union player who played in the scrum-half position. Rimmer played club rugby with Southport RFC and Waterloo FC, represented Lancashire county, was capped 12 times for England, and was a member of the British Lions team that toured in 1950.
William Michael Patterson was an English rugby union player who played in the Centre position. Patterson played club rugby for Sale RFC, Gloucester RFC, Wasps FC and Chiltern RFC, was capped twice for the England national team, and was a member of the British Lions team that toured in 1959.