Rugby club bids farewell to ‘Benny’
A SEA of family and friends burst into applause at a packed-out Caerphilly rugby ground as they said goodbye to popular rugby player Owen Bennett.
Around 1,000 people in Caerphilly RFC and Wales shirts filled the stands at the team’s pitch to pay tribute to the talented 20-yearold hooker after his death on July 22.
Owen’s coffin, adorned with red and white flowers, was carried on to the pitch that had meant so much to him accompanied by Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here.
Ignoring the rain, friends, family and fellow team members laughed, cried and danced together during the celebration of life service before singing an emotional rendition of Bread of Heaven.
The service follows a memorial match on August 4 when thousands turned up to watch a Caerphilly select XV take on Benny’s Baa-Baas. Among those who played for the Baa-Baas was Owen’s father Paul.
But on Wednesday last week mourners returning to the club were told to “open up” and talk to each other following the loss of a “fun, outgoing, social lad” who was “always on the go”.
Those closest to the prominent player remembered a “popular, chatty, typical rugby” lad who loved to sing, joke and spend time with friends.
Owen’s sister Megan and mother Claire read a letter addressed to a “one in a million” figure.
Claire addressed her son: “Hiya, butt, how are you doing? I can’t believe you sent us rain... bet you will be laughing.
“I just want to let you know you will be missed so much.”
The mother-of-two joked that Owen’s love of eating and talking as a baby had carried on throughout his life.
Describing him in the service as a “tank of a man”, she continued: “You had so many friends. I never knew who you were with, but if only you knew how much you were loved and cared about.”
Beginning his rugby career at Bargoed aged 10, Owen, known as “Benny” to friends, progressed through the junior, youth and senior ranks at Caerphilly and represented the Dragons at U16 and U18 levels, before moving on to pack down for Nelson in Division One East of the WRU National League.
Despite starting a course in mechanics at the Coleg Gwent Crosskeys campus, the rugby player went on to find his calling after pursuing bricklaying, alongside attending Merthyr College.
Messages from friends read out to the congregation told of a community shaken by Owen’s death.
Claire continued: “Rugby became a massive part of all of our lives really.
“Your whole life was about rugby. You loved it and loved playing for Caerphilly, and when you didn’t have a game for them you would wait for the phone to ring [from other teams].
“We would be doing kits with half an hour to spare and we won’t even talk about rugby boots. One year you went from a size six to a size 12 in nine months. All we did that year was spend money on boots and trainers for you.”
Duringthe service, Claire asked mourners to turn to each other and “have a dance” as Billy Ocean’s Love Really Hurts Without You played from speakers on the pitch.
At the end, mourners gave Owen one final round of applause as Charlie Puth’s See You Again filled the grounds.
Claire added: “Shine on, you crazy diamond. You are gone but you will never be forgotten. Thank you for the adventure.”