We are very sorry to report that flanker Phill Mills (28) has retired from playing rugby due to persistent injury.
Very fortunately for the Club, he retains his close involvement with Fylde RFC through his ‘day job’. He’s Head of Community Rugby for the Fylde Rugby Community Foundation and is playing a major role in the development of rugby amongst young and older people on the Fylde Coast, with imagination and energy.
Phill learnt his rugby initially at Bolton RUFC before entering Myerscough College’s AASE rugby programme. He joined Preston Grasshoppers and made his National League debut as an 18 year old in the 2011-22 season. He spent four seasons at Lightfoot Green and made 87 1st XV appearances before moving to Fylde for the 2015-16 season. He returned to ‘Hoppers in 2016-17 before taking a sabbatical in New Zealand with Canterbury the following season.
On his return to the UK he joined Rossendale RUFC under their then Head Coach Mark Nelson. He put in some outstanding performances for Lancashire in the County Championship and this earned him selection for England Counties on their tour of Romania in 2018.
Towards the end of the 2019-20 campaign he moved back to Fylde but the pandemic brought this to an early finish. He had an excellent first half of the 2021-22 season before injury ended his season in December. He made a total of 41 appearances for Fylde in his two spells at the Club.
Here are judgments from two people who are in an ideal position to assess Phill’s contribution to our sport. Could anyone hope for better testimonials at the end of their playing career?
—————–
From Alex Loney (Fylde Joint Head Coach)
“Phill has simply been a fantastic player, performing at a very high level, since he returned to Fylde.
As a player, the confidence Phill gave those around him was huge because everybody knew the work rate, sublime running skills, and technical back row skills that Phill contributed to each playing performance.
Most importantly, Phill is a strong character and his personality is positive, genuine and supportive. I am proud to have shared the field with Phill as a player, and then latterly coaching him and having his support as a senior player.
Fylde RFC are lucky to still have Phill involved via the Fylde Community programme. The work Phill undertakes in this area is equally impressive, so it’s nice to know that we will continue to benefit from the many professional skills and experience Phill possesses.
Thank you, Phill!”
————
From Mark Nelson (Fylde Executive Rugby Consultant & Lancashire Head Coach):
“Millsy is one of those rare players whose performances and approach to the game exemplify all that is good about being a rugby player.
Although he played at hooker it was in the back row , at 7, where he shone the brightest. To excel at open side a player needs “extra” of all the attributes attached to other positions and Millsy had those “extra“ qualities in abundance. Leaving aside technical and athletic prowess it is the personality traits of courage, endeavour , commitment, passion and leading by selfless example that really define quality in that position and it is those traits that define Millsy as a player and a person .
When he returned from has stint in New Zealand, I persuaded him to play at Rossendale where he made a massive impact. This led to an outstanding County season for Lancashire and he became the only player from the Northern Premier League to be selected to tour with England Counties, a truly outstanding achievement.
He moved from Rossendale to Fylde but, and this is a mark of the man, played a couple more games for the Stags in crucial matches before switching to the Woodlands. Again he excelled at his new club and became a firm favourite with his coaches, team mates and on the terraces.
From the point of view of a coach, Millsy ticks every box in the plus column and as a lad he has all the human qualities that are important in life. Phill made a lasting contribution of excellence in every team he has played in and is a true example of a person having ….“the right stuff“.
