Clive Burgess
| Birth name | Robert Clive Burgess | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 25 November 1950 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Manmoel, Caerphilly | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 2 May 2006 (aged 55) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of death | Ebbw Vale, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Robert Clive Burgess (25 November 1950 – 2 May 2006) was an international rugby union flanker who played for Wales from 1977 to 1982. Burgess was a popular player who had many nicknames some of which were Budgie, Animal and The Steel Claw thanks to his fearless nature and rugged appearance. He played his club rugby for Ebbw Vale RFC, Croesyceiliog RFC and Brescia Rugby
Burgess is unusual as he first started playing rugby at the age of 20 after leaving the
Born in Manmoel on 25 November 1950, Robert Clive Burgess joined Ebbw Vale from Croesyceiliog RFC and was a superb servant to the Eugene Cross Park club, for whom he made more than 200 appearances, before finishing his career in Italy with Brescia.
Former Welsh Rugby Union Chief Executive Steve Lewis said,
Whenever you saw his name on the team sheet you knew you had a chance of winning any game. He was a tower of strength at Ebbw Vale and his mauling capabilities were legendary.
Burgess died in May 2006 leaving behind a widow and two daughters.[3]
Family
His uncle, Ron Burgess was a Wales international footballer.[4]
References
- ^ Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881-1981 pp464, David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980)
- ISBN 0-09-173850-4
- ^ Clive Burgess, Abrassive Wales forward The Independent
- ISBN 1-872424-11-2.