During his career, in the 1970s, the opening half multiplied the selections for the national team (29), won the Five Nations Tournament three times and played eight matches for the Lions against Africa South and New Zealand.

"Phil passed away peacefully at home on Sunday evening surrounded by his close family. Our thoughts are with his wife Pat, sons Steven and James, family and friends at this incredibly sad time," the Welsh club said. in a press release.

Bennett's debut for the national team has gone down in history.

At only 20 years old, the young "Benny" replaced the injured winger Gerald Davies during a match against France in the Tournament in 1969 in Colombes.

That day, the Welsh will be forced to a draw (8-8) but will have won a talented player.

He earned his starting stripes in the 1973 Tournament, with the retirement of Barry John, and formed a memorable hinge with Gareth Edwards, who led the Welsh to the Grand Slam in 1976. The following year,

Bennett made rugby history with a pre-match chat to his teammates before hosting England at Arms Park.

“Look what those bastards have done in Wales. They stole our coal, our water, our steel. They buy our houses and only live there for a fortnight a year. What have they given us? Absolutely nothing. We are exploited, violated, dominated and punished by the English, and they are the ones you face this afternoon," he said in the locker room.

That day, the Welsh will win 14-9.

That same year, he led the Lions against the All Blacks without preventing them from losing the tour three wins to one.

"He was to rugby what (Ian) Botham was to cricket, (Johan) Cruyff to football and (Ilie) Nastase to tennis", reacted Willie John McBride, captain during the 1974 Lions tour in which Bennett took part .

"He had magic in him, an indefinable quality. He had the audacity to attempt rare gestures and made the spectators rise from their seats," he added.

At club level, his best result was Llanelli's 9-3 victory over the All Blacks in 1972. After retiring from sport in 1981, Phil Bennett took over as Scarlets chairman and also acted as a lecturer, television pundit and on the radio.

In 2005, the Welshman was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame, joining his former partner Gareth Edwards, who had been inducted eight years earlier.

© 2022 AFP