Phil Bennett

Philip Bennett (24 October 1948 – 12 June 2022) was a Welsh rugby union player who played as a fly-half for Llanelli RFC and the Wales national team. He began his career in 1966, and a year later he had taken over from Barry John as Llanelli's first-choice fly-half. He made 414 appearances for the Scarlets over the course of a 15-year career he scored 131 tries, 43 drop goals, 293 pens and 523 conversions. He made his Wales debut in 1969, but it was not until John's retirement from rugby in 1972 that Bennett became a regular starter for his country. He led Wales to the Five Nations Championship title, including the Grand Slam in 1978, which culminated with his retirement from Wales duty.

Bennett also toured with the British Lions to South Africa in 1974, when they went unbeaten in 22 matches, and to New Zealand in 1977, and also made 20 appearances for the Barbarians between 1970 and 1980; he played a pivotal role in the win over New Zealand in 1973, considered by many to be the best rugby union match ever played.

Bennett was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2015.

Early life Bennett was born in Felinfoel, Carmarthenshire, on 24 October 1948. His father, Les, worked in a local steelworks in Llanelli until he had an industrial accident, and his mother, Mary, worked at a local car-pressing plant.

Rugby career Club career Bennett began his rugby career with Felinfoel RFC, before being picked up by nearby Llanelli RFC. They won that title twice more during Bennett's time at the club, He retired from club rugby in 1981, having made 414 appearances for Llanelli and scored 2,535 points.

International career Bennett made his Wales debut against France at Stade Colombes in Paris on 22 March 1969; he came off the bench to replace an injured Gerald Davies, making him the first ever substitute for the Wales national team. Bennett's first start came on the right wing against South Africa in January 1970, a position he was not familiar with, but he was considered "too good to leave out"; he then moved to inside centre for Wales' first match of the 1970 Five Nations Championship against Scotland, before making his first appearance at fly-half in the match against France two months later.

Bennett went on to become a member of the British and Irish Lions team on their tour to South Africa in 1974, He was awarded an OBE in the 1978 New Year Honours for services to rugby football.

Post-retirement After retiring, Bennett became a commentator for BBC Wales on their radio and television rugby coverage. In 2007, he was inducted into the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame. He was named president of the Scarlets regional side in 2011. (listed at the website of the Hall of Fame as inducted in 2014). In April 2022, a statue of Bennett by local wood carver Simon Hedger was unveiled in Bennett's home village of Felinfoel.

Death Bennett died from throat cancer at his home in Felinfoel, on 12 June 2022, aged 73. The Guardian said that Bennett was "one of the greatest fly-halves to play for Wales and the British and Irish Lions. The Welsh Rugby Union said he was "a Welsh rugby legend in every sense and true gentleman".

On 19 June 2022, ahead of their match against England, the Barbarians players stood in the shape of a number 10 in honour of Bennett, and a minute's applause was observed in the stadium. Barbarians fly-half Antoine Hastoy wore his name on the back of his shirt in red rather than grey.

On 12 June 2023, the Scarlets announced that they would face the Barbarians in a pre-season friendly, with the match being marked as the Phil Bennett Memorial Game. A donation made up of the ticket revenue of the game would be given to the Phil Bennett Foundation, a charity founded in memory of Bennett to help raise charitable funds to help disadvantaged, disabled or underprivileged individuals to participate in sport. The match was played on the 16 September 2023 and the Scarlets won the game 33–19.