Mike Forshaw


Michael "Mike" Forshaw is an English former professional rugby league and rugby union footballer who played in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, and who then moved into coaching. He began his playing career with Wigan in 1987 and went on to play for Wakefield Trinity , Bradford Bulls and Warrington Wolves. Known as the "ultimate professional", he played for Great Britain.

Background

Born 5 January 1970 in Wigan, Lancashire, Forshaw had a brief stint at Saracens F.C., and was briefly the Player Performance Lifestyle Advisor for the Rugby Football League.

Playing career

Rugby league

During the 1991–92 Rugby Football League season, Forshaw played for defending champions Wigan from the interchange bench in their 1991 World Club Challenge victory against the visiting Penrith Panthers.
In 1997 he was named in the Super League Dream Team. In the 1997 post season, Forshaw was selected to play for Great Britain in two matches of the Super League Test series against Australia. Forshaw won caps for Great Britain while at Bradford Bulls in 1997 against Australia , in 1998 against New Zealand, in 1999 against New Zealand, in 2001 against France, and Australia, in 2002 against New Zealand, and in 2003 against Australia, and Australia.
Forshaw played for Bradford Bulls from the interchange bench in the 1999 Super League Grand Final which was lost to St. Helens. Forshaw won caps for England while at Bradford Bulls in 2000 against Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand.
Forshaw played for the Bradford Bulls as a in their 2001 Super League Grand Final victory against the Wigan Warriors. As Super League VI champions, the Bradford Bulls played against 2001 NRL Premiers, the Newcastle Knights in the 2002 World Club Challenge. Forshaw played as a in Bradford's victory.
Forshaw played for the Bradford Bulls as a in their 2002 Super League Grand Final loss against St. Helens.
Forshaw played for the Bradford Bulls as a in their 2003 Super League Grand Final victory against the Wigan Warriors.

Coaching career

Rugby league

After retiring from playing in 2004 he rejoined Warrington to look after Strength & Conditioning of the players until November 2006.
He returned to his boyhood club and teamed up with his old coach Brian Noble in December 2006 when he took over as strength & conditioning coach for Wigan Warriors.
He studied a BSc part-time at UCLAN following Wigan's sponsorship by UCLAN.
He then had a stint at Connacht in the Celtic League.

Rugby union

In 2013 Forshaw joined Sale Sharks, as defence coach.
His initial focus was on bringing in systems and structure, working with a player group that he regarded as already strong. Forshaw follows a ‘3D’ approach to the contact area of defence: discipline, detail and decision-making, with a particular focus when within 50m of own try line.