Gloucester legend passes away

Gloucester have announced the passing of former captain and one of the true legends of the club, Mike Nicholls.

“Out of respect for Mike, the Gloucester Rugby flag at Kingsholm is flying at half mast today, and will do so until after the funeral, details of which will be communicated in due course. Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time,” Gloucester said in a statement.

Nicholls made 483 first team appearances and 15 appearances for Gloucestershire in a career that spanned 17 years.

A player who led from the front, the long-serving hooker captained Gloucester for three seasons, 1970-71, 1971-72 and then again 1973-74.

Under his captaincy the team were a formidable unit, not always pretty to watch but very effective.

During the second year of his reign, Gloucester collected their first ever domestic trophy, winning the National Knock-Out Cup by defeating Moseley 17-6 in the final at Twickenham.

In order to reach the final, Gloucester had come through successive away ties at Bath, Bristol, London Welsh and Coventry – the last two rated the two top clubs in the country at the time.

His career was at a pinnacle in the club's centenary season of 1973-74 when his team recorded a club record of 39 wins and scored 1000 points. Their 24-14 win against an International XV in the centenary match is remembered by all who were there.

The Gloucester playing record during the three years of his captaincy is 107 wins, 35 defeats and nine draws. After retirement as a player, he continued to serve the club as a coach and as a long-serving member of the committee and continued to attend matches at Kingsholm on a regular basis.