Geoff Wheel

Last updated

Geoff Wheel
Birth nameGeoffrey Wheel
Date of birth(1951-06-30)30 June 1951
Place of birth Swansea, Wales
Date of death26 December 2024(2024-12-26) (aged 73)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Amateur team(s)
YearsTeamApps(Points)
Mumbles RFC ()
Swansea RFC ()
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
19741982 Wales 32 (0)

Geoffrey Wheel (30 June 1951 – 26 December 2024) was a Wales international rugby union player who attained 32 international caps. [1] A lock-forward, he played club rugby for Mumbles RFC and then Swansea RFC.

Wheel made his international debut on 2 February 1974 versus Ireland and between 1974 and 1982 he formed a formidable second-row partnership for Wales with Allan Martin during the second 'golden-age' of the Wales international team.

In 1977 Wheel, along with Willie Duggan of Ireland, became the first players to be sent off in a Five Nations international match.

Wheel was the organist in the Parish of St Thomas in Swansea where he also ran Geoff's Tuck Shop at the Boys Brigade every Wednesday.[ citation needed ] In 2011 he agreed to become the president of a Welsh male voice choir, the Swansea-based Gwalia Singers.[ citation needed ]

Wheel died from motor neurone disease on 26 December 2024, at the age of 73. [2]

References

  1. Wales profile [ permanent dead link ]
  2. "Former Wales and Swansea lock Wheel dies aged 73". BBC Sport. 26 December 2024. Retrieved 27 December 2024.