Geoff Wheel dead at 73: Welsh rugby legend dies after battle with motor neurone disease

Former Wales international Geoff Wheel has died at the age of 73, it has been announced.

Wheel was an iconic figure for Welsh rugby in the 1970s and early 1980s. He won 32 caps for his country, winning three Triple Crowns and two Grand Slams along the way.

The news was confirmed by his former club, Swansea RFC, with a statement claiming that his motor neurone disease had ‘not prevented him from attending matches’ until this season.

In a moving message to one of their great former players, Swansea said Wheel passed away in the early hours of Boxing Day, Thursday, December 26.

“Geoff was a player and man loved and respected by all who knew him,” read a statement from Swansea RFC.

A fierce competitor on the playing field, Geoff was privately a soft-spoken, shy and thoughtful person, dedicated to the club he served from 1970 to 1983, twice as captain, as a player and for many years with the All Whites Former. Players Association (AWFPA) committee, who was the president of the AWFPA at the time of his death.”

Wheel (competing on lineout) was part of two Grand Slam winning Welsh teams, and also won four Triple Crowns

The statement added: ‘Geoff’s two seasons as Swansea captain marked a hugely successful period for the club. In 1979-80 they won the Western Mail Championship, Sunday Telegraph Anglo-Welsh Championship, Ny Breaking Anglo-Welsh Championship, Sunday Telegraph Team of the Season and were WRU National Sevens winners.

‘The following season, under Geoff’s captaincy, Swansea retained the Sunday Telegraph title and were also winners of the Whitbread Merit Table.

‘Normally Geoff remained the humble man he had always been and the whole team benefited from this approach.’

With Wales, Wheel once remained unbeaten for fifteen games between January 1975 and March 1978.

The former lock actually holds the dubious record – along with Ireland’s Willie Duggan – as the first player to be sent off in a Five Nations match, with both players given their marching orders at the same time.

Wheel spoke warmly of Duggan and even left the pitch shaking hands with his Irish counterpart, according to Swansea RFC.

Another on-field clash produced an iconic photo, with Wheel at odds with England’s Bill Beaumont.

However, the two were far from bitter rivals and had a quick drink after the match and remained on good terms. Wheel felt that the image did not fully reflect the spirit with which the game was played.

Wheel (fourth right, back row) won three Five Nations titles during his years of national service

One of Wheel’s most iconic moments came after he took on England’s Bill Beaumont in 1980

He was also the first Welshman ever to be sent off in an international match, and in addition to his Grand Slams and Triple Crowns, Wheel was part of Welsh sides that won the Five Nations title three times, during something of a ‘golden age’ . .

His partnership in the engine room of the Welsh pack with Aberavon’s Allan Martin was particularly fruitful and crucial to their side’s period of success.

Wheel – affectionately known as Gaffa – would perform 27 times on the international stage together with Martin.

Swansea RFC president Stan Addicott said: “Geoff was respected and much loved by everyone at Swansea Rugby Club. I had the privilege of being his club coach for seven years, from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s.

‘His sincere, fiery, yet engaging and humorous character endeared him to his players, while he often shared his musical talent on the accordion and ukulele with club supporters after matches.

‘He was certainly one of the great characters of his time in Welsh rugby and will be greatly missed as a family man, player and friend to many people.’

Swansea RFC’s next match will see a minute’s silence on December 28, ahead of the game against Aberavon.