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Where are they now? Wales’ Wembley winners

Five Nations Cup 11/4/1999, Wales, Scott Gibbs©INPHO/Billy Stickland
It is 21 years since Scott Gibbs stunned England with perhaps the most famous try ever scored at Wembley but ask almost any Welshmen and they will be able to tell you exactly where they were when he crossed the whitewash.

It is 21 years since Scott Gibbs stunned England with perhaps the most famous try ever scored at Wembley but ask almost any Welshmen and they will be able to tell you exactly where they were when he crossed the whitewash.

On a glorious April day at the home of English football, Wales and England played out one of the most dramatic encounters in the Championship’s history, in the final game of the Five Nations.

Gibbs’ try made the score 31-30 to England, with the metronomic Neil Jenkins doing the honours to seal the victory, handing Scotland the title in the process.

But what are the 15 men who started that game up to now?

15. Shane Howarth

New-Zealand born Shane Howarth won 19 caps for Wales between 1998 and 2000, and scored the first Welsh try at Wembley.

After retiring, Howarth has coached all over the world, from home town Auckland to the Pacific Islands and in England with Worcester.

He is now back in New Zealand, and is the owner of the Fresh Choice supermarket in Mangere Bridge in Auckland.

14. Gareth Thomas

One of the most recognisable members of that Welsh team, by the time he retired Gareth Thomas was Wales’ record appearance maker and try-scorer.

He has since been overtaken in both categories, but remains a great of the Welsh game.

Since retiring from rugby in 2011, Thomas has been a regular as a television pundit, including working for ITV during the 2019 and 2020 Guinness Six Nations.

Before retiring Thomas came out as gay, making him the first openly gay professional rugby union player, and in 2010 he was named Stonewall Hero of the Year.

13. Mark Taylor

Centre Mark Taylor won 52 caps for Wales over the course of an 11-year international career which came to an end in 2005.

Since then he has worked as a team manager for Wales at different age group levels, as well as the Scarlets more recently.

Taylor is also a qualified accountant, and left the Scarlets to start working for Bevan Buckland accountants.

Alongside that he is the company accountant for family garage HJ Phillips & Son in Llanelli.

12. Scott Gibbs

The hero on the day for Wales, Scott Gibbs will always be remembered for his try against England, not to mention his exploits with the British & Irish Lions, for whom he was the man of the series on the 1997 Tour of South Africa.

The dual-code international played his final Test in 2001 and has done a range of different activities since retiring.

After spending time in both South Africa and Italy, Gibbs has most been in the USA at Wharton Business School in Philadelphia. He has also studied neuroscience and is writing a book with his wife Kate who suffered a serious brain injury when hit by a scooter in Italy in 2016.

11. Dafydd James

At just 23, Dafydd James was one of the younger members of the team and he continued playing for Wales for a further eight years after that Wembley success.

Since retiring, James has stayed in shape, working as a personal trainer in Dubai, while he has also worked in recruitment.

In 2018, James opened up about his struggles with mental health and admitted to being overwhelmed by the response.

10. Neil Jenkins

It is a sign of just how accurate a kicker Neil Jenkins was that the Wembley game is remembered for Scott Gibbs’ try rather than his conversion.

There never seemed to be any doubt that Jenkins would add the extras, and he did just that.

Jenkins was part of the Welsh coaching team under Warren Gatland, serving as the skills coach and was part of the team that led Wales to the Grand Slam in 2019. He has worked with Gatland on Lions Tours in 2009, 2013 and 2017.

9. Rob Howley

Like half-back partner Jenkins, Howley went into coaching after calling time on his playing career. The scrum-half captained Wales on 22 occasions, winning 59 caps for his country.

After retiring he went straight into coaching, initially with Cardiff Blues and then for the entirety of Gatland’s time in charge of Wales. During that time he has stepped up to the top job when Gatland was away with the Lions, including leading Wales to the 2013 Championship. Howley has also been part of the coaching set-up for the last three Lions Tours.

1. Peter Rogers

Loosehead prop Peter Rogers won 18 caps over the course of 18 months with the win over England coming in only his third cap.

Since retirement he has set up PPR Ltd, a property business based in Cardiff.

As well as working in property, he also plays veterans rugby and has taken part in a number of cycling events including Race Across America alongside fellow Welsh international Alix Popham.

2. Garin Jenkins

Hooker Garin Jenkins has a claim to fame as the last miner to play international rugby for Wales.

He won 58 caps in all for Wales, winning his last cap in 2000.

Since retirement he has worked for BOC Gas and Gear in Port Talbot, while he also does radio commentary on rugby, including during the 2019 Championship.

Jenkins is also a committed Christian and does a lot of charity work.

3. Ben Evans

Ben Evans made his debut for Wales in 1998, coming off the bench against South Africa, and by 1999 he was starting at tighthead prop.

Evans was well-travelled during his playing days, including stints in Italy and France, and the same has been true of his post-playing career.

He coached at a number of different clubs in England including Jersey, and then moved to Australia.

There he has served as the Paramatta Two Blues scrum coach, while he now runs Blue Bison recruitment company in Sydney.

4. Craig Quinnell

One of two brothers in the team, second row Craig Quinnell followed in the footsteps of brother Scott and father Derek in representing Wales.

He then followed the same path as Derek after retirement and is a director of Aquatreat, a water treatment company that was founded by his dad.

5. Chris Wyatt

Alongside Quinnell in the second row was Chris Wyatt who won 38 caps for Wales over a five-year Test career.

He spent the majority of his club career in Llanelli but finishing playing in France for a number of different clubs.

He has remained in France, living with his family in Provence where he initially went into coaching. Wyatt now transports vehicles back and forth to the UK.

6. Colin Charvis

Colin Charvis won 94 caps for Wales in all over the course of an 11-year international career, and would even go on to captain the side.

Since retiring Charvis has worked as part of the coaching set-up at the Dragons, but he now owns his own business.

Colin Charvis Flooring is a carpet and general flooring business in Swansea that the former Wales flanker runs.

7. Brett Sinkinson

New Zealand-born flanker Brett Sinkinson made his debut for Wales in March 1999, going on to win his third cap in the victory against England.

Sinkinson won 20 caps for Wales, the last of which came in 2002.

He now lives back in New Zealand with his wife Tracey and their children.

8. Scott Quinnell

Larger-than-life character Scott Quinnell is the final member of the back row that faced England and Wembley.

The No.8 won a grand total of 55 caps for his country, while also representing Wales at rugby league.

He is still a major presence in Welsh rugby, working as a pundit on TV and presenting the show School of Hard Knocks.

He had a recurring role on TV series Stella, playing himself, while he owns Quinnell Candles with his family.