Wales and Lions great Phil Bennett has passed away aged 73 after battling a long illness.
The news was announced by the Scarlets, for whom he played 413 games and scored 2,535 points over 15 seasons.
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. In the second of those, in 1978, he led the side and scored two tries as they completed their clean sweep of victories by beating France in Cardiff.
You can leave your tributes in the comments section here, which will be passed on to the club and family.
The diminutive fly-half also starred with the Lions in South Africa in 1974 and skippered the world-famous tourists in New Zealand three years later,
There were also unforgettable deeds for the Barbarians, with the twinkle-toed west Walian triggering the try scored by Gareth Edwards against New Zealand in 1973 that is still regarded by some as the greatest touchdown ever scored.
But Benny, as he was known throughout rugby, never seemed more comfortable than when playing for his beloved Llanelli, where he spent virtually all his senior career.
His finest hour for them came in their 9-3 win over New Zealand at Stradey Park in 1972. Llanelli’s forwards were bravery personified, but the home team needed their tactical maestro to see them home. Late in the game, he fielded a kick deep in his own half, under pressure from the wing Grant Batty, who was hurtling towards him. There was no time for Benny to think, but instinctively he stepped to the side and let Batty fly past. A superbly flighted kick to touch ensured the danger was averted; Llanelli had their triumph that has resonated down the decades.
His role in the Barbarians try almost half-a-century ago again saw him collect the ball in an unpromising position, underneath his own posts with All Blacks once more closing in. But Bennett’s evasive skills, including a series of jagged sidesteps, saw him take out a third of the New Zealand team before releasing the ball and turning defence into exhilarating counter-attack.
The most modest of men, who wore his renown lightly, he became an accomplished after-dinner speaker and respected pundit and newspaper columnist after his playing days.
Those who saw him play in the flesh could consider themselves fortunate, for they could say they had watched an authentic rugby genius.
Not that Benny would ever have promoted himself as such.
Those close to him had no such qualms, though.
Standing alongside Phil at the recent unveiling of a statue of him in his home village of Felinfoel, the former Wales and Llanelli lock Delme Thomas paid a glowing tribute, saying: “When I came back from the 1971 Lions tour of South Africa and the great Barry John retired the following season, everyone thought Welsh rugby was finished, but up came this boy from Felinfoel and he never looked back.
“When I think of great outside-halves who have played the game, I think of this boy, because, believe me, I played with some great players in my time, but this is the best of them all.”
He is survived by wife Pat and sons Steven and James.
