Scott Gibbs facts for kids
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Personal information
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| Full name | Ian Scott Gibbs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 23 January 1971 Bridgend, Glamorgan, Wales |
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Playing information
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| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 15 st 7 lb (98 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rugby union
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| Position | Centre | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rugby league
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Ian Scott Gibbs, born on January 23, 1971, is a famous former rugby player from Wales. He was known for being a very strong and skilled player. Scott Gibbs played both rugby union and rugby league, which is quite rare! He represented Wales and the British & Irish Lions in rugby union. He also played for Wales and Great Britain in rugby league.
Some of his most famous moments include his amazing performance in the 1997 British Lions tour to South Africa. During this tour, he was even named "Player of the Series." Another memorable moment was a fantastic try he scored in the last few minutes of a game against England in the 1999 Five Nations tournament.
Contents
Early Life and Rugby Beginnings
Scott Gibbs was born in Bridgend, a town in Glamorgan, Wales. He started playing rugby at a young age at Pencoed RFC. He played through the mini and youth teams there.
Starting His Professional Career
Scott Gibbs began his professional rugby union career at Bridgend RFC in the 1990-1991 season. After a short time at Neath RFC, he made his first appearance for the Welsh national team in 1991 against England.
In January 1992, he moved to Swansea RFC. He scored a try in his very first game for Swansea. That season, he helped Swansea reach the Cup final, where they played against Llanelli RFC.
Playing for the British & Irish Lions
Even though he was only 22 years old, Scott Gibbs was chosen for the British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand in 1993. The Lions are a special team made up of the best players from England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. Scott played so well that he was picked for the second and third big test matches on that tour.
Switching to Rugby League
In 1994, Scott Gibbs decided to switch from rugby union to rugby league. He joined the team St. Helens.
Achievements in Rugby League
While playing rugby league, Scott Gibbs was selected to play for the Welsh national team in the 1995 Rugby League World Cup. He also helped St. Helens win the Challenge Cup and the first-ever Super League title in 1996. He played as a centre in the 1996 Challenge Cup final, where St. Helens beat Bradford Bulls.
Scott Gibbs also played for St. Helens in the 1995-1996 Regal Trophy Final. His team lost to Wigan in that game.
Returning to Rugby Union
Scott Gibbs returned to rugby union in 1996. He became known for his incredibly strong tackles, earning him the nickname "Car Crash." He was considered one of the hardest tacklers in the world.
The Famous 1997 Lions Tour
In 1997, Scott Gibbs was a very important player for the British & Irish Lions during their tour of South Africa. The South African team, called the Springboks, were world champions at the time. Many people expected them to win the series easily.
However, the Lions played incredibly well, especially in defense. Scott Gibbs was at the heart of this strong defense, making many powerful tackles. The Lions ended up winning the series 2-1. Scott Gibbs' amazing performance led to him being voted "Player of the Series."
The Unforgettable 1999 Try
In 1999, Scott Gibbs showed his incredible skill by scoring a winning try in the very last Five Nations match ever played. Wales was playing England at Wembley. England was trying to win the "Grand Slam," which means winning all their games in the tournament.
England was leading by 6 points with only three minutes left to play. It looked like they had won the game. But in extra time, Wales had one last chance. Scott Gibbs received the ball about 20 meters from the try line. He famously broke through England's defense, ran around one player, and then stepped past another. He crossed the line to score one of the most celebrated tries in Welsh rugby history!
After Neil Jenkins kicked the conversion, Wales won the match 32-31. This game is remembered as one of the best in the competition's history. It meant England missed out on their Grand Slam, and Scotland ended up winning the Five Nations Championship that year.
In 2001, Scott Gibbs was called up to join the 2001 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia as a replacement player. However, he did not play in any of the main test matches on that tour.
Life After Rugby
Scott Gibbs retired from playing rugby in 2004 when he was 33 years old. After retiring, he started working for the BBC as a rugby union commentator. He also coaches a rugby team called the Pirates in Muscat, Oman.
Today, Scott Gibbs lives in Cape Town, South Africa.
