About Phil Bennett
Philip Bennett 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. Following the departure of Barry John to Cardiff RFC at the end of the season, Bennett took over as Llanelli's first-choice fly-half, and in his first full season, they won the Western Mail Welsh Club Championship. They won that title twice more during Bennett's time at the club, as well as reaching the final of the WRU Challenge Cup in each of its first five years, winning four in a row from 1973 to 1976. 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.
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