Phil Bennett

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."

Wales legend Phil Bennett is remembered as 'a true one-off' by his former team-mates and opponents following his death at the age of 73.

He was just a nice humble man and one of the greatest ever." "He was also a great friend and personality who got on with everybody. He was a huge inspiration. "He was a brilliant player, one of the best I have played with and have never seen an outside-half like him. "He was such a mercurial player. "He was also a great rugby player and leader. It was a tough tour to New Zealand in 1977 and we did not win the series and I know that affected Phil because of the disappointment. "Everybody was sad to hear the news. I was fortunate to play 10 seasons with Phil at Llanelli. Everybody left that tour thinking what a great guy he was. "Just to see him play and the way he handled the game, the way he beat players, the acceleration he had, he was just a delight to watch and he scored so many brilliant tries. "He was a great all-rounder, his side-step and the speed, he was definitely a one-off.

Phil Bennett played 29 times for his country - and he was instrumental during the British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa in 1974, where he racked up a ...

"He was an icon of our sport, a rugby superstar, but someone who always remembered his roots. Condolences to his family and friends at this sad time." "Many a wonderful memory of touring with him in 77. Sir Bill Beaumont, English rugby talisman and chairman of World Rugby, also paid tribute, saying: "Desperately sad to hear of Phil Bennett's passing. He also captained the side for six years. A statement from the Welsh Rugby Union called Bennett a "Welsh Rugby legend in every sense and a true gentleman", adding it was "such sad news" to hear of his death.

The rugby world is mourning the death of legendary Wales and British & Irish Lions fly-half Phil Bennett, one of the game's all-time greatest players.

Genuinely one of the greatest to ever play the game – he will be missed by us all.” Not only one of the greatest on the pitch but one the most supportive and genuine blokes I’ve ever met in the rugby world. Love to Pat and all of the family. Condolences to his family and friends at this sad time.” And thank you, sir.” And was. Felinfoel RFC tweeted: “Sad news that club president and legend Phil Bennett has passed. He also called Neath RFC to tell them to give me the opportunity of first-class rugby. In a tribute on the club’s website, Scarlets Executive Chairman Simon Muderack said: “As a club, region and community, we are devastated by this news. “He became a great friend and I will miss him greatly. Our deepest condolences to Phil’s wife Pat, their family and his many, many friends. “He was an icon of our sport, a rugby superstar, but someone who always remembered his roots.

Benny was not just a wonderful rugby player but an exceptional human being. I played alongside him for eight Lions tests in 1974 and 1977, and got a real sense ...

So generous with his time and a brilliant storyteller. RIP Phil” A clip of that Gareth Edwards score accompanied the post. A post on the official Barbarians account read: “Very sad to hear Phil Bennett has passed away. Genuinely one of the greatest to ever play the game – he will be missed by us all.” One of the greats of Welsh & Lions rugby. English rugby icon Sir Bill Beaumont tweeted: ‘Desperately sad to hear of Phil Bennett’s passing. Not only a legend on the field but the very best of them off it as well. In a poignant tribute in the Daily Telegraph, former Lions team-mate Ian McGeechan wrote: “Phil Bennett was a team-mate, a fellow Lions tourist, and a friend. Former Llanelli captain Rupert Moon, the man who led the side to the famous win over the Wallabies in 1982, said: “True legend…. I played alongside him for eight Lions tests in 1974 and 1977, and got a real sense of him as both a player and a man. Another Scarlets great Scott Quinnell added: “Just heartbroken to hear the news. He also called Neath RFC to tell them to give me the opportunity of first class rugby.

Wales legend Phil Bennet, who has died aged 73, has been remembered by former teammates and opponents as a 'natural talent' who made 'anything possible'

I was fortunate to play 10 seasons with Phil at Llanelli. He was a brilliant player, one of the best I have played with and I have never seen an outside-half like him. He was a huge inspiration.” He was a man who was held in great esteem by teammates and opponents. “He was the kind of player where you wanted to buy a ticket to go and see him play because once he had the ball in his hands, anything was possible. He was a legend of a player and an even better bloke.” “I have known Benny for over 50 years,” Davies told BBC Five Live. “He had a sports shop in Llanelli and I went in just so I could see and meet him.

Wales rugby legend Phil Bennett has died aged 73, leading to scores of tributes from around the world.

Of course, he also won 29 caps for Wales from 1969 to 1978 and starred for the Lions on two tours, to South Africa in 1974 and New Zealand three years later. Up until recently, the Felinfoel native also took the time and effort to write a handwritten letter to any Scarlets player who had suffered a serious injury. There was barely any human interaction, and the squad also contained a number of young players.

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.”

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.

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

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.

Two-time British & Irish Lions tourist and former captain Phil Bennett has died aged 73.

He struck three penalties as the tourists won the first Test 12-3 and then produced the performance of his career to inflict a record defeat on South Africa in the second, slicing through the home defence to score as the Lions raced to a 28-9 win. In 1974, Bennett was picked for his first British & Irish Lions Tour to South Africa and starred in a series that is still the stuff of legend. The fly-half is widely recognised as one of the all-time greats of the game and dazzled in both the red of Wales and red of The British & Irish Lions at the height of his career in the 1970s.

The out-half won 29 caps for his country between 1969 and 1978, winning two Grand Slams and three Triple Crowns.

Paying tribute to Bennett on their website, the Lions said: “The fly-half is widely recognised as one of the all-time greats of the game and dazzled in both the red of Wales and red of The British & Irish Lions at the height of his career in the 1970s.” “He was an icon of our sport, a rugby superstar, but someone who always remembered his roots. Rest in peace Benny.” Our deepest condolences to Phil’s wife Pat, their family and his many, many friends. Bennett’s first Lions tour was to South Africa in 1974 and he was at the heart of what was regarded as the greatest rugby tour in history. Phil toured with the Lions in 1977 and was a key member of the revered Invincibles of '74.

Former Wales and British & Irish Lions fly-half Phil Bennett has died aged 73, his former team Scarlets announced.

He later became a well respected commentator on radio and television following his retirement. "A player with stardust in his boots, he possessed a sidestep that would mesmerise defenders," Scarlets said in a statement. Bennett was awarded an OBE in 1979 while World Rugby inducted him into their Hall of Fame in 2005.