Geoff Wheel
| Birth name | Geoffrey Wheel | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 30 June 1951 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Swansea, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 26 December 2024 (aged 73) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Geoff 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.
A large uncompromising figure, Wheel had a noticeable twitch which only served to make him more intimidating.[citation needed] 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
[edit]- ^ Wales profile[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Former Wales and Swansea lock Wheel dies aged 73". BBC Sport. 26 December 2024. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
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