Norman Gale dies suddenly

Norman Gale, great man of Welsh and Llanelli rugby, died suddenly in Llanelli on Sunday of a heart attack. He was a former Welsh captain

Two days after watching the Scarlets in a great victory over Munster at Stradey park, Gale suffered a heart attack and died. He was 65 years of age.

Gale hooked 25 times for Wales, twice as captain. In his matches, between 1960 when he played against Ireland in Dublin and 1969 when he played against Australia in Sydney, he scored a try and kicked a penalty goal, an uncommon achievement for a hooker! he kicked the penalty against the All Blacks in 1967. he captained Wales against New Zealand in 1967 and England in 1968.

Born in Gorseinon, he played for Gorseinon before going to Llanelli, but in 1960 he played for Swansea and played his first Test. Then he went back to Llanelli and again played for Wales in 1963, becoming a fixture in the middle of the front row. He captained Llanelli in 1964/65 and 1967/68.

Perhaps his greatest moment in Test rugby was scoring the try at the death at Murrayfield which enabled Wales to beat Scotland 12-10. That year Wales won the Five Nations championship and the Triple Crown.

After his playing days he coached and was an assistant to Carwyn James in 1972 when Llanelli famously beat the All Blacks - 9-3. He was the sole coach in 1973-74.

His son, Sean, played prop for Llanelli and is now a part of the club's coaching structure.

At the time of his death, Gale was president of the Llanelli Past Players Association.

Norman Reginald Gale was born in Gorseinon on 24 July 1939 He attended Gowerton Grammar school and was first a fitter and then the licensee of a pub in Llanelli, the White Horse Inn in Pembrey Road. He died on 31 January 2005, survived by his wife Ann and their son Sean.