Watkins was educated at Glyncoed Comprehensive and Ebbw Vale Senior Comprehensive where he played at scrum-half and centre. He began his club career with RTB Ebbw Vale Youth RFC where he swapped his position to hooker. Whilst still playing youth rugby he moved to Ebbw Vale RFC senior team. He was first selected for the Wales international team during the 1988 Five Nations Championship, coming on as a replacement. His first starting international came two weeks later when he faced Scotland at the National Stadium in Cardiff, in which Watkins scored his only international points with a try.