by &Zerowidthspace; Geoff Wheel, who has died of motor neurone disease aged 73, was a tough rugby union forward who played 32 times for Wales during their golden era in the 1970s. He made his debut at 22 years in 1974 when the team was already established as the most exciting force in world rugby, and continued for eight years, by which time the great days were over.
Wheel’s work in the second row was unglamorous compared to the flair roles of players such as JPR Williams and Gareth Edwards. But his great contribution to the team was his unrivaled ability to snatch the ball away from the opposition at Rucks and Mauls.
Playing largely in partnership with colleague Allan Martin, he was very effective not only in the loose but in the lineout, where his leaping ability and great strength – with his distinctive white headband – set him apart.
Although gentle and reticent off the field, Wheel could be an aggressive and stubborn figure in action, and in 1977 became the first Welshman to be sent into an international, for battling with Willie Duggan of Ireland.
He also had a notable confrontation with England’s Bill Beaumont at Twickenham in 1980, although the incident attracted attention mainly because it was captured in what became a widely used press photograph. Wheel was upset that the image had generated so much interest because he and Beaumont had thought nothing of the section and shared a friendly pint after the match.
The most controversial moment of Wheel’s career was not at all of his making, when he was penalized in 1978 against New Zealand in Cardiff for a push into the lineout, leading to a late converted penalty which made it 13-12 to the All Blacks and denied Wales a famous victory. In fact, Wheel had not pushed anyone, for New Zealand’s Andy Haden, as he later admitted, gave in to the referee by diving to the ground without any significant contact.
Geoffrey Arthur Derek Wheel was born on June 30, 1951 in Swansea and grew up in the St Thomas area of ​​the city, attending Bishop Gore Grammar School. He played his first rugby for Mumbles RFC, whilst showing footballing potential in the reserves with Swansea City. He began to focus exclusively on the oval ball game when he was signed by Swansea RFC at the age of 19 in 1970.
Within four years he made his debut for Wales in the Five Nations Championship, and by 1979 he had featured in four title-winning campaigns, including two Grand Slams. His final appearance came in 1982, after which he continued with Swansea for another year, ending up with 323 appearances for the club. He captained the Whites from 1979 to 1981, a period during which they collected a plethora of honors including two Anglo-Welsh championships and a national sevens title, winning 81 of 93 matches under his command.
He also played nine times for the Barbarians between 1975 and 1977 and was reportedly part of the British and Irish Lions’ 1977 tour to New Zealand, but for a medical examination which revealed a previously unknown heart condition. To his simultaneous relief and grief, the diagnosis turned out to be incorrect, but the error was discovered too late to allow its removal to be reversed.
Working as an accounts director in a brewery company, Wheel maintained his links with Swansea RFC for the rest of his life, and was a leading light in the club’s former players’ association, of which he was president until his death.
He was noted during his playing days for Acco & ZerowidthSpace; mPanying club supporters on the accordion or ukulele in post-match singing sessions, and was for many years organist at Church Services in St Thomas, where he lived all his life. He was also president of the Gwalia Singers Choir in Swansea and volunteered as a food bank worker and with the boys’ brigade.
He is survived by his wife, Christine, whom he married in 1975.
Geoffrey Wheel, born June 30, 1951, died December 26, 2024
