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5 Lives Rugby Union Weekly

Hello and welcome to this special episode of the Rugby Union Weekly Podcast.

A tribute to one of the all-time greats in Phil Bennett, who was died at the age of

73.

In an era of Welsh rugby icons, Bennett stood out.

His brilliance for the scarlet, wails, lions and the barbarians, the stuff of legend.

Coming up, we're here from Ken Owens, from Jonathan Davis and from Ian Robertson, as

well as a fascinating archive interview with Bennett himself.

But we're joined first by a friend of the pod in Gareth Ries Owen from BBC Wells, a familiar

voice from our Rugby Union Daily in the spring, and someone who worked with Bennett in his

broadcasting career.

Grow good to have you on a game or be it in sad circumstances.

What's been the reaction in Wales to lose in such an iconic figure in Phil Bennett?

Very emotional, I think, and I've spent a lot of of today on social media, conversing

with those in the game.

Basically, drenching myself in Phil Bennett tributes.

What I can say, right, with complete conviction, is that every single tribute comes from a

place of authority and authenticity.

And I am sorry to say this, but more often than not, when people unfortunately pass away,

some of the words that are left that are told the next morning, the next day, well, they're

empty, they're vacuous, you know, the BS counter in your head goes, hmm, was he really that

...