Phil Bennett

Bennett made his Wales debut in March 1969 against France in Paris, replacing the injured Gerald Davies to become the first Welsh substitute in international ...

Money from shares contributes directly to keep our paper thriving. They buy our homes and live in them for a fortnight every year. Recovering the ball near his own try line, Bennett evaded four All Blacks to start the move that led to Gareth Edwards’s length-of-the-field score, since dubbed “rugby’s greatest try.”

Tributes have poured in to “a Welsh rugby legend in every sense” after former British and Irish Lions fly-half Phil Bennett died after a long illness at the ...

While a contemporary of his, Sir Bill Beaumont said: “Desperately sad to hear of Phil Bennett’s passing. “He was an icon of our sport, a rugby superstar, but someone who always remembered his roots. “Such sad news from Llanelli this evening with the passing of Phil Bennett, a Welsh rugby legend in every sense and true gentleman,” said a statement from the Welsh Rugby Union.

Bennett - who has passed away at 73 after a battle with illness - will never be forgotten. No-one else embodied Welsh rugby's traditionally adventurous ...

At the time, former Wales centre Tom Shanklin remarked the statue of Bennett should have been engraved in gold and not wood. This reporter remembers interviewing Bennett in Aberystwyth on one summer’s afternoon on the eve of a new season. He thrived in Wales’ famous No 10 jersey after the sudden and shock retirement of John. Before facing England in 1977, Bennett famously told his Wales team-mates: ‘Look what these b******* have done to Wales. They've taken our coal, our water, our steel. A man of the people, Bennett became a sports development officer for Carmarthenshire Council after retirement having been a steel worker as a young man. ‘Widely regarded as the greatest player to wear the Scarlets jersey, ‘Benny’ played 413 times for Llanelli RFC from his debut against Swansea at the age of 18 to his final appearance at his beloved Stradey Park in 1981.’ Not for the first time in his career, no-one could lay a hand on him.

Phil Bennett helped Wales win the Five Nations grand slam twice in their 1970s golden era and was part of the famed British Lions tour victory in 1974.

He became a popular pundit for BBC Wales and remained a loyal supporter of Felinfoel RFC, the amateur club in his home village where his statue was unveiled in April this year. In a poll conducted by Channel 4 in 2002 it was voted No 20 on the list of the 100 greatest sporting moments. By the time he looped a long pass to Williams he had left another two in his wake. There was no finer ambassador of Scarlets Rugby than Phil, a player respected across the rugby world, both during his career and long after he finished playing. His first Lions tour was to South Africa in 1974 and he was at the heart of a team dubbed “The Invincibles”. The tourists won 21 of their 22 matches and the Test series 3-0, with one game drawn. He was the lynchpin in a team that dominated northern hemisphere rugby in the 1970s alongside Gareth Edwards, Derek Quinnell, JPR Williams and Gerald Davies.

Bennett led Wales to Grand Slam glory and also captained the British and Irish Lions.

The punishing itinerary was over three months long and New Zealand had one of its wettest winters on record. They buy our homes and live in them for a fortnight every year. “Look what these bastards have done to Wales,” Bennett said. He was awarded an OBE in 1979 for services to rugby and inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame. Bennett’s form earned him selection for the Lions’ tour of South Africa in 1974, and he was at the heart of what was regarded as the greatest rugby tour in history. Bennett, who has died at the age of 73, was a twinkle-toed outside-half who sparkled for Llanelli, Wales and the British and Irish Lions – all of whom he captained with distinction.

The Wales and Lions great has passed away after a long illness.

“He was an icon of our sport, a rugby superstar, but someone who always remembered his roots. A superbly flighted kick to touch ensured the danger was averted; Llanelli had their triumph that has resonated down the decades. There was no time for Benny to think, but instinctively he stepped to the side and let Batty fly past. "He was an icon of our sport, a rugby superstar, but someone who always remembered his roots. One of Welsh rugby’s finest ever players, he won 29 caps for Wales between 1969 and 1978, featuring in two Five Nations Grand Slam-winning teams. His captain on that South Africa tour, the great Willie John McBride wrote of Phil: “He was to rugby what Botham was to cricket, Cruyff to football and Nastase to tennis. A sculpture was recently unveiled in Phil’s home village of Felinfoel to celebrate a man who gave so much to his local community. When he sidestepped, you half-expected it to come with a screech. Scarlets Executive Chairman Simon Muderack said: "As a club, region and community, we are devastated by this news. Memorably, he was part of the Llanelli side that claimed a historic victory over the All Blacks at Stradey in 1972 — a day he always cited as his greatest in rugby. Ironically, it was a penalty miss from Benny, which rebounded off the Town End crossbar, that led to Roy Bergiers’ match-winning score that afternoon. Genuinely one of the greatest to ever play the game - he will be missed by us all.— Mark Drakeford (@PrifWeinidog) https://t.co/tFwdJWs4bs June 12, 2022

Phil Bennett's former club Scarlets confirmed the sad news in a statement. The 73-year-old passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday evening surrounded ...

There was no finer ambassador of Scarlets Rugby than Phil, a player respected across the rugby world, both during his career and long after he finished playing. Wherever the Scarlets travel around the world, people mention the name Phil Bennett. He was an icon of our sport, a rugby superstar, but someone who always remembered his roots. Bennett's former Scarlets captain and Wales and Lions team-mate Delme Thomas wrote: "He was the best fly-half I have ever seen on a rugby field."

It is with deepest sadness that we announce that our former captain and Scarlets President Phil Bennett has died at the age of 73.

“He was an icon of our sport, a rugby superstar, but someone who always remembered his roots. He was named Scarlets President in 2011. His captain on that South Africa tour, the great Willie John McBride wrote of Phil: “He was to rugby what Botham was to cricket, Cruyff to football and Nastase to tennis. Scarlets Executive Chairman Simon Muderack said: “As a club, region and community, we are devastated by this news. Ironically, it was a penalty miss from Benny, which rebounded off the Town End crossbar, that led to Roy Bergiers’ match-winning score that afternoon. Phil and his family were regular supporters of the Scarlets, both in the stands of Stradey and more recently at Parc y Scarlets where one of the stadium lounges is named in his honour.

Bennett led Wales to Grand Slam glory and also captained the British and Irish Lions.

The punishing itinerary was over three months long and New Zealand had one of its wettest winters on record. They buy our homes and live in them for a fortnight every year. “Look what these bastards have done to Wales,” Bennett said. He was awarded an OBE in 1979 for services to rugby and inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame. Bennett’s form earned him selection for the Lions’ tour of South Africa in 1974, and he was at the heart of what was regarded as the greatest rugby tour in history. Bennett, who has died at the age of 73, was a twinkle-toed outside-half who sparkled for Llanelli, Wales and the British and Irish Lions – all of whom he captained with distinction.

Ex-Wales and British and Irish Lions fly-half Phil Bennett has died at the age of 73, his former club Scarlets have announced.

"He was an icon of our sport, a rugby superstar, but someone who always remembered his roots. "Phil was a hero and friend to so many people, not only in Llanelli and West Wales, but throughout the game and I am sure a lot of Scarlets supporters will have their own particular stories of the times they met and chatted to 'Benny'. The statement went on to quote Bennett's former club captain and Wales and Lions team-mate Delme Thomas, who said: "He was the best fly-half I have ever seen on a rugby field."