Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Phil Bennett R.I.P.

Another Legend has sadly passed away. Phil Bennett was one of the Welsh Rugby and Lions greats. R.I.P.

Yes very sad.

Many memories of Phil. A life size carving of him was put up in his home village of Felinfoel earlier this year. Just in time for him to see it.
I played against him once in a friendly. My club played the steelworks side in a midweek game. My second game as a 16 yr old wing forward. I got close to him once off a line out trying to charge down a kick. No chance! As I passed him in mid air and walked back he said “ well, done, boy”. The line out was 60 yards away...a long jog.Never to be forgotten.
I later played with him for the steelworks team when a metallurgist there. A true gentleman and would chat to many.
October 1972....I was there . Llanelli 9 New Zealand 3.
As a club we had close links with Llanelli RFC and would be pre season training there. Loved it but you could see the gap in physical standard!
Phil had been ill for a while, hence no longer on TV as a pundit.
No doubt there will be a big send off.
Thanks for the many unforgettable memories Phil

Very sad indeed.

A true gentleman and a very talented player.

His performance when the Scarlets beat the All Blacks in 1972 was superb and probably only surpassed by the part he played when the Barbarians beat the All Blacks in 1973. Whilst Gareth Edwards gets all the plaudits for "That try" It was Phil. Bennet who jinked past four All Blacks to start it all off.

I am sure that the turnout for his funeral will be huge.

RIP

https://youtu.be/R0Kv9FXqs1k

…..the link to The Game.

And a great captain,
Here's a reminder of his team talk before the game against England 1978.

"Look what these bastards have done to Wales.
They've taken our coal, our water our steel.
They buy our houses and only live in them for
a fortnight every year. What have they given us?
Absolutely nothing. We've been exploited, raped,
controlled and punished by the English and that's
who you're playing this afternoon."

Phil Bennet team talk. Wales v England 1978.

RIP

Amazing turnout at Parc Y Scarlets today.

Just shows the measure of the man and the respect he had from so many former team mates and Rugby supporters which judging by the array of Jerseys being worn a great many were not Scarlets supporters but came from all over Wales and beyond.

He deserved this memorial service.