Cult hero Bish recovering from stroke
WELSH rugby cult hero David Bishop has suffered a stroke aged 60.
The legendary former Pontypool scrum-half, who was capped just once for Wales in rugby union, is now recovering.
His former club said on Tuesday evening: “Pontypool RFC is saddened to learn that Dai Bish has suffered a stroke.
“Bish – all of us at Pooler wish you a speedy recovery and our thoughts are with you during this difficult time. We’re sure the Pooler Army will join us in sending well wishes to a true legend of the club.”
Wales Rugby League tweeted: “We were saddened to learn that @dbish09 has suffered a stroke.
“Everyone at #Walesrl wishes the #rugbyleague legend a speedy recovery #Getwellsoon”
Bishop moved rugby mountains for Pontypool with impressive displays alongside fly-half Mark Ring, controlling matches with accurate box-kicking and long punts into corners, but also displaying unorthodox flashes of skill and devastating bursts which left opposition back rows trailing.
The player, branded a genius by many, remarkably appeared only once for Wales’s rugby union side, against Australia in 1984, and headed for rugby league after becoming tired of the repeated selection snubs in union.
He famously bought former Pontypool coach Ray Prosser a colour TV out of his signing-on cheque for Hull Kingston Rovers in 1988.
He became a fan favourite in his four years at the club, and later played for Salford and London Crusaders before returning to Pontypool as a player-coach in 1995.