Micky Skinner was a member of the 1992 Grand Slam
winning team.
He also played in the 1991 World
Cup final.
Career Record: Played 21, Won 16, Lost 5.
Test Points: 12
Tries: 3.
1988 v France (Paris) L 10-9 (FN)
1988 v Wales (Twickenham) L 11-3 (FN)
1988 v Scotland (Murrayfield) W 9-6 (FN)
1988 v Ireland (Twickenham) W 35-3 (FN)
1988 v Ireland (Dublin) W 21-10
1989 v Fiji (Twickenham) W 58-23
1990 v Ireland (Twickenham) W 23-0 (FN)
1990 v France (Paris) W 26-7 (FN)
1990 v Wales (Twickenham) W 34-6 (FN)
1990 v Scotland (Murrayfield) L 13-7 (FN)
1990 v Argentina (Buenos Aries) W 25-12
1990 v Argentina (Buenos Aries) L 15-13
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1991 v Fiji (R) (Suva) W 28-12
1991 v USA (Twickenham) W 37-9 (W.Cup)
1991 v France (Paris) W 19-10 (W.Cup)
1991 v Scotland (Murrayfield) W 9-6 (W.Cup)
1991 v Australia (Twickenham) L 12-6 (W.Cup Final)
1992 v Scotland (Murrayfield) W 25-7 (FN)
1992 v Ireland (Twickenham) W 38-9 (FN)
1992 v France (Paris) W 31-13 (FN)
1992 v Wales (Twickenham) W 24-0 (FN)
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Micky Skinner is pictured above playing for England in January 1991. Photo G. Herringshaw. ©
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Known mostly for the power of his tackling, Geordie born Mick Skinner was an iron hard flanker who enjoyed an eventful 21 cap England career between 1988 and 1992. "The Munch" came into the international game relatively late - he was called up as a replacement for the 1987 World Cup, before eventually making his debut at 29 in a narrow defeat against France in Paris. He played in the remaining three games of the 1988 campaign but then lost his place to Mike Teague for the Championship near miss in 1989. He was back the following year when England achieved a near perfect blend of forward power and backline flair, only to be denied by Scotland in the Grand Slam decider. England played way below their potential at Murrayfield, and Mick was one of three players left chasing shadows when Tony Stanger scored the winning try.
He would miss the '91 Grand Slam triumph, but enjoyed a great World Cup later in the year, scoring a try in the group stages against the USA before ousting Dean Richards for the quarter-final battle with France. Mick was always a man for the big occasion and he effectively won the game for England when his bone crunching tackle denied opposition Number 8 Marc Cecillon what seemed a certain try. England lost the final to Australia, albeit narrowly, but Mick would finally taste glory in the 1992 season when England won a second consecutive Grand Slam. He played in all four games and signed off with a try in his final appearance against Wales at Twickenham. Hugely popular off the field, the waistcoated one went on to star as a wisecracking media pundit and released his own video compilation of rugby's best tackles. (Jon Collins)
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