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24 May 2016 / Club News

Ian "Figgis" Phillips

Most of you will by now be aware that Ian passed away earlier this week after a long and courageous battle with illness.

Ken Green:
Ian was a true legend of the club, and he will be sorely missed. His passion for playing and representing Caerphilly was immeasurable - he will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Our thoughts go out to Ian's family at this sad time.

Ian's funeral will take place at St Martin's Church at 3pm on Friday 27th May, then 4pm at Thornhill Crematorium, with a reception in his memory at Caerphilly Golf Club. The car park at the old Police Station opposite the Golf Club will be open until 8pm.

Matthew Ferris: Team Manager CRFC

Ian John Phillips (Fig) 1971-2016

Caerphilly RFC 1993-98

Fig’s rugby career like many other young boys started when he first entered secondary school.  In his player profile during the 1993/94 season Fig lists his biggest influence on his career as his former teacher at St. Martin’s School and rugby coach Tim Lyons.  I can remember that first training session when asked what position he was.  Fig responded by saying, “Full Back”.  Mr Lyons looked at him and replied in his broad Middlesbrough accent, “Na I think its second row for you!”   So Fig’s destiny was set by his first training session and by the end of his school career Fig had managed to represent Mid Glamorgan Schools at Under 17 and Under 19 Levels and had made it through to the Welsh Schools Final Squad, unfortunately not winning his cap.

While still in School Fig spent two seasons with Cardiff Youth, a season with the rags before joining Pontypridd RFC where he made his debut against Pontypool RFC during the 1991-1992 season.  Mid District Under 21 honours were to follow, where Fig was fortunate to play against a touring New Zealand team at Penygraig RFC with future team mates Leigh Tomlins and Chris Ferris.

It was the lure of Heineken League rugby with Caerphilly and the chance to play with many of his former school mates that brought him to Virginia Park for the 1993-1994 season and he remained ever present in the ‘boiler house’ for the next five seasons. Fig’s debut for the Castle Town team came in a bruising encounter against Cardiff High school Old Boys at the Diamond Ground in what was to be the Caerphilly’s first taste of the Heineken League.  Caerphilly won that game and Fig ended up having to have his lip stitched up on the side of the pitch by Doc Crossley before returning to the fray!! Promotion followed promotion and Fig is one of the few Caerphilly players to have played for Caerphilly in every division of the Heineken League.

Personally speaking I am hugely honoured to have played with Fig in a number of fixtures in the 1995-1996 season when we won promotion to the top tier of Welsh rugby.  Physical encounters with Bonymaen RFC and £100-win bonus spring to mind. Perhaps it was the after match celebrations in Barons night club when we were ‘suited and booted’ and relatively well off that remain vivid.  Equally that season wining promotion at South Wales Police with Fig, Matthew Lewis, Chris Ferris and myself all in the same team are equally memorable. We had  played together in the same school side and now we were going to be playing at the top level of the game was hugely rewarding.  Fig managed to pick up the most improved player of the year award during the annual dinner and it was fully deserved.

Fig was an ever present during Caerphilly’s first season in the elite of Welsh Rugby and even when the club was relegated after the WRU had changed the rules mid way through the season he remained at the club.  An ever present in the 1997-1998 season, when they were crowned champions and the club returned to the top flight.  Unfortunately, as is the case when teams become successful local boys who have been part of the team are often disregarded in favour of new signings.  Fig felt it was time to move on and like a number of former Caerphilly players at the beginning of the 1998 season he decided to join our local neighbours Bedwas RFC.  At Bedwas Fig was instrumental in their rise to prominence and distinguished himself playing the same no nonsense style of rugby that had made him hugely popular with supporters at Virginia Park.

In my view Fig was an old fashioned second row forward.  Great in the scrummage, won you good quality front of the line ball and hit every ruck, with every ounce of his 18 stone frame.  His good friend and front row colleague Billy Bilton remarked that,” he was the best scrummaging second row the club has ever produced. He made my job so much easier by giving 100% in every scrum.” Fitting words to describe a hugely talented and popular player.

I know that Fig had a huge affinity with the clubs he represented and was hugely proud to have worn the Green and White of Caerphilly RFC.  This season he had the honour to join me on a number occasion watching the boys from the stand before enjoying a few drinks in the bar.  Indeed, in November at my son’s 18th birthday he couldn’t resist the lure of the boat race against many of the Youth boys, showing the same warmth and humour that he always displayed in every aspect of his life.  Raise a glass as we remember a great friend and former player of Caerphilly Rugby Football Club.  Long live Fig!

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