A former Manchester Rugby player has revealed his use of the game’s “dark arts” and believes modern rugby laws have taken away that part of the game.

The game has changed drastically over the years with rules being added and adjusted which have changed the dynamic of the sport.

Many of the rules have been changed for the benefit of the players’ health.

Mike Flynn, 80, said: “It is a safer sport, not necessarily more enjoyable. I was a practicer of the dark arts, so I’ve got no comment.

“In my day, if someone went on the floor, that was it – straight over the top of them. God help you. Now, if it’s a mess, it’s a penalty.”

Although it was a different game, Flynn doesn’t believe the players are any softer than when he was playing

“No, I wouldn’t have said it’s softer. The laws have changed.”

Flynn had a long career playing rugby until he retired at 36, a decision that would leave a lasting mark.

“I could give you a list of what I have had replaced; I’ve got a partial knee replacement, one complete hip replacement, a replacement shoulder, stenosis of the spine and spondylosis in the neck.

“I played when I shouldn’t have played, when I was carrying injury, because that’s all I wanted to do, I just wanted to play.”

Facilities and equipment were practically non-existent, making it much less safe to play.

“It was all grass and often the surfaces were terrible, just very muddy and you could not get any grip on the surface.

“When I first started to play, there were three distinct styles. The backs had lighter boots. The flankers had a three-quarter cut over the ankle, and the forwards had a full boot, because they were the pushers.

“Kangaroo skin became a trend to wear; I got a pair and I remember kicking the ball with them and it was like they had imploded!”

Flynn began as a full-back but would find himself stood in the front row later in his career.

“I was young and lively and quick. They used to call me Mercurial Mike Flynn, but I eased my way into the front row as I got older.”

Another cause of the injuries for many players at that time was the complete lack of medical support available to them.

He added: “It was a bucket and a sponge by the side of the field. They’d sponge you down and send you back on.

“I played for the school first, then I went to play for an outfit called Prestwich Colts, which were under-eight teams, and then progressed into their senior sides. And then I was asked to go and play for Manchester Rugby. ”

At the time, Manchester Rugby Club was considered a first-class club in the amateur era. There were no leagues, but the fixture list was formidable.

“We used to play the likes of Sale and Bradford. Occasionally we played up and down the country against some Scottish sides.”

There were also representative sides which were teams representing a business or company.

 “I was a civil servant with the General Post Office. The GPO used to have its own XV and we played against Scotland Under-23s at Kelso as well as Jersey Telecom and Northern Ireland Telecom.”

Professionalism has also reshaped the landscape of Manchester Rugby. Once a first-class club competing on a par with local rivals and reaching the second tier, financial problems derailed its progress. He doubts the club will return to former heights.

Flynn said: “I hope they do. But I cannot see it. As soon as any talent comes along, it’s pinched.”

Despite all the surgeries and playing through terrible conditions, Flynn has no regrets.

“It doesn’t stop me doing anything. I’ve still gone on holidays to India and China – I’ve been all over the place.

I wanted to play rugby. It didn’t matter which team I was in. I just wanted to play.”