Nicknamed 'Sparrow', due to his very light frame, Phillips was a fly-half noted for his excellent attacking play, but was weak defensively and was a poor kicker. Phillips is also recognised as one of the first specialised rugby players in Welsh rugby. Under the captaincy of Arthur 'Monkey' Gould, Newport utilised team-mate Fred Parfitt's expert passing to secure the scrum-half berth which linked up with Phillips as a specialised runner. Phillips was also used as a running partner with Gould, for Newport and later Wales, breaking shoulder to shoulder with his captain, and using fast inter-passing to confuse defenders. Phillips was first chosen to represent Wales during the opening game of the 1892 Home Nations Championship, partnered with Penarth'sGeorge Rowles. The game was played away at Blackheath against England, and Rowles and Phillips had been brought in as replacements for the Swansea half-backs brothersEvan and David James. Wales lost 17–0 and the next match saw the reintroduction of the James brothers. The James brothers played out the rest of the Championship for Wales, but then both switched codes to play for professional league team Broughton Rangers. This made the Swansea pair ineligible to play for the Wales team, and created an opening at both halfback positions for the next season. Phillips was reselected to play for Wales in 1893, this time partnered with his Newport team-mate Parfitt. The pair played for Wales throughout the 1893 Championship, which saw Welsh victories in all three games, giving Wales the Triple Crown for the very first time. Phillips played his part throughout the tournament, and was instrumental in setting up Gould's second try in the narrow victory over England in the tournament opener at the Cardiff Arms Park. Phillips played just two more international games, both as part of the 1894 Home Nations Championship. Again linking up with Parfitt, Wales lost the first game of the competition, defeated heavily by England. Phillips was selected for the very next game against Scotland, which Wales won 7–0, all points coming from Cardiff'sDai Fitzgerald. Phillips was replaced by Ralph Sweet-Escott for the final game, against Ireland, his international career over.
