The man who killed off England at Wembley in 1999 and was famously dubbed the “fastest prop in world rugby” revealed his intentions this morning that he is quitting professional rugby after playing 53 Tests and scoring 10 tries for Wales.
He also won five Lions caps during three tours, and played league for Wales and St Helens.
Fellow double international Iestyn Harris yesterday paid tribute to one of the most popular Welsh players in the game.
“Scott Gibbs has been a fantastic player in both rugby union and rugby league,” he said.
“As I was starting to come through he was really established in rugby league and I was lucky enough to play with him in a World Cup.
“He was a fantastic league player; strong, aggressive – he had everything needed to be a top-class league player.
“He was amazing to play with and tough to play against, then when he came back to rugby union he continued to be a fantastic player.”
Gibbs will be best remembered for his try at Wembley in 1999.
Wales looked dead and buried as the game entered injury time and they trailed England by six points, but they marched upfield, won a crucial lineout and spun the ball out to Gibbs.
The stocky centre came back on an angle that left English players lying all over the place and scored the try that narrowed the gap to one point. Neil Jenkins’ conversion gave the “home side” a famous 32-31 win, which denied England the last Five Nations Championship and handed it to Scotland.
While in another famous red jersey – that of the British and Irish Lions – Gibbs produced another moment that will live in rugby fans’ memories.
In the 1997 South African tour’s Second Test – the one won by Jeremy Guscott’s dropped goal – Gibbs’ match was summed up with one run.
He took an inside crash ball and headed straight at Os Du Randt – a 19-stone prop nicknamed the “Ox”. Gibbs simply ran over him.
Gibbs was named as the Ospreys skipper this season, but several injuries have affected his contribution to the struggling side’s cause and he calls it a day 13 years after making his Test debut against England. He misses tonight’s match against Edinburgh with a leg injury.
