Thousands pay respects to ‘great’ Phil Bennett at former Wales star’s funeral

Phil Bennett was described as “a great gentleman and a great rugby player” as giants of the sport from Wales and beyond united in tribute to him at a remembrance service in Llanelli.

Bennett, who died earlier this month after a long illness at the age of 73, captained Wales and the British and Irish Lions.

A genial fly-half, whose staggering side-stepping ability brought the dance floor to the rugby field, also played more than 400 times for Llanelli RFC.

He won 29 Wales caps between 1969 and 1978, winning two Five Nations Grand Slams and three Triple Crowns, skippered the Lions to New Zealand in 1977 and was part of the Lions’ Test series-winning tour of South Africa three years earlier.

He also started the move, playing for the Barbarians against New Zealand in 1973, that delivered a length-of-the-field score and is often described as rugby union’s greatest try.

Barely three miles from where Bennett helped Llanelli famously beat New Zealand 9-3 at Stradey Park 50 years ago, family, friends, players past and present, coaches and rugby supporters gathered at Parc y Scarlets to honour his legacy.

Eulogies were given by Delme Thomas – ex-Wales skipper, three-time Lions tourist and captain when Llanelli toppled the All Blacks – and journalist Graham Thomas, who ghosted more than 1,000 national newspaper columns with Bennett during a 25-year association.

The funeral cortege arrived to the accompaniment of Rod Stewart’s ‘Sailing’ with a star-studded, 40-strong guard of honour reflecting Bennett’s stellar career, while floral tributes included one simply spelt out as “Benny,” one from the Lions and another designed as the figure 10 as Bennett’s coffin was positioned on the halfway line.

Members of the revered 1972 Scarlets