The very different new lives of the 1999 Wales team who went down in history

It was one of the most memorable days in Welsh rugby history and one that will never be forgotten by those that were there.

Wembley in April 1999 was the setting, against the backdrop of England chasing the Grand Slam in the final ever match in Five Nations history. Graham Henry's Wales were huge underdogs and writen off across the board, but they stayed in the game before snatching an unlikely victory in stunning scenes.

It was Scott Gibbs who broke English hearts as he waltzed his way through the defence to score a late try, with Neil Jenkins' conversion securing a stunning 32-31 victory to deny Clive Woodward's side the Championship.

Here’s what the 15 heroes who started that match have been up to since that famous day.

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15. SHANE HOWARTH

New Zealand cap Shane Howarth switched allegiance to Wales and went over for a try following a pass from Neil Jenkins. However, he was later barred after being at the centre of the Grannygate scandal.

The full-back, who had previously represented the All Blacks, had stated he was eligible to play for Wales through a Welsh grandfather on his mother’s side. But the now infamous investigation uncovered there was no formal documentation to prove it.

Last year, he spoke of the enduring pain caused to his family by 'Grannygate', explaining: "“To have that [playing for Wales] taken away from me hurt, it hurt big time. But what upsets me the most is it hurt my mum’s side of the family. It dragged up things that didn’t need to be bloody dragged up.

"It all came out in the wash. The most disheartening thing for me, out of it all, was I let my mum and my grandmother down. That sits with me still today."

Howarth coached at professional level following his retirement, working with Wasps and Worcester Warriors amongst others but is now the owner of the Fresh Choice supermarket in Auckland’s Mangere Bridge.

14. GARETH THOMAS

A former Wales and Lions captain, Thomas became the first openly gay professional rugby union player before revealing in 2019 that he is living with HIV.

Last year, he settled the legal case filed against him by his former partner who accused him of hiding his HIV status during their relationship. He made a £75,000 payment plus costs "without admitting liability or guilt".

Since ending his playing career, Thomas has worked as a pundit for ITV and appeared on reality TV shows including Celebrity Big Brother, Dancing on Ice, The Jump and Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins. He was appointed an OBE in the 2020 Birthday Honours for services to sport and health.

13. MARK TAYLOR

Taylor was capped 52 times by Wales and was appointed captain by then coach Graham Henry, only to relinquish the role after suffering a serious knee injury. After a career which saw him represent Pontypool, Swansea, Scarlets, Sale and the Ospreys, he hung up his boots in 2008.

A qualified accountant, he had stints as team manager of the Scarlets and the Wales Under-20 team, before becoming Performance Pathway Coordinator for the WRU in 2022.

12. SCOTT GIBBS

Set up the winning conversion after juggling Scott Quinnell’s pass and side-stepping his way through the England defence for a spectacular try. It was the final significant act of a career which had seen him terrorise the Springboks during the winning Lions tour of South Africa in 1997.

Since retiring, he has done punditry, coaching and worked as a businessman and had spells living in Italy, South Africa and the USA. He worked regularly as a rugby pundit during his time in South Africa

11. DAFYDD JAMES

James won 48 caps for Wales and three for the Lions before his career was cut short in 2009 when he fractured a vertebra in his neck. Since hanging up his boots, he has spoken bravely about his struggles with mental health, admitting that he had suffered panic attacks and anxiety in retirement.

Last year, the former Scarlets, Bridgend and Pontypridd star, who has also worked as a personal fitness trainer in Dubai, in recruitment and as a pundit, revealed he had been diagnosed with early onset dementia and probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy

He is one of hundreds of players to have joined legal action against rugby's governing bodies, who are accused of failing to protect players from permanent brain injuries. James told the BBC he was tested for dementia because "I was wondering what was wrong with me".

The former Wales wing added: "In a way it probably highlights that I've got a little bit of an answer about why I feel the way I do. I suffer with my mental health and in a way it's quite cathartic to tell people because I'm trying to help other people who are suffering and there's plenty of people out there who are suffering."

10. NEIL JENKINS

His part in Wales winning against England should not be under-estimated because he kicked magnificently from his sand tee at Wembley, keeping Henry’s heroes in the contest and unflappably shrugging off the pressure to knock over the winning conversion.

Retiring after winning 87 caps for Wales, he returned to the WRU as kicking skills coach and is in the same role today, preparing the new Welsh kicking generation following the retirements of Dan Biggar and Leigh Halfpenny. He has also worked as a kicking coach for the Lions.

9. ROB HOWLEY

The captain for that famous win at Wembley, Howley returned to the Wales coaching staff for the 2024 Six Nations after a four-year absence. Warren Gatland's former assistant was sent home for the 2019 World Cup after admitting his guilt in an illegal rugby union betting scandal, which saw him banned from the sport for 18 months, half of which was suspended.

The former scrum-half, who was reappointed as a technical coach, was also caretaker head coach of Wales for a number of different campaigns when Gatland was absent on Lions duty and incapacitated by feet injuries. Following his ban, he was given a route back into the game by Canada, working as their assistant coach under former Wales captain Kingsley Jones.

After being welcomed back to Wales, Howley said: "I have a second opportunity to do a job I've dedicated my working life to and I'm grateful to everyone in Welsh rugby for their acceptance and their faith in me. It's faith I intend to repay to the best of my ability."

1. PETER ROGERS

Rogers, who had playing spells with London Irish, Cardiff and Newport, has a totally new career, retraining as a social carer having undergone an apprenticeship in his fifties and enrolling on a Masters course in dementia studies.

The 18-cap prop has also had property and clothing businesses since his retirement and taken part in a number of cycling events as well as playing veterans rugby. He came out of retirement for one match at 53 to play alongside his son on his 21st birthday.

Speaking about his new career in health and social care, Rogers said: "For some people, it may not seem the most glamorous job in the world, but I would say that domiciliary health care is ideal for professional sportspeople who do not have a career to walk into when they retire.

"Playing professional sport and working in domiciliary health care require a similar set of skills – discipline, teamwork, good communications, mental strength and the ability to deal with complex situations where you need support. Both careers are very rewarding."

2. GARIN JENKINS

One of Welsh rugby’s key players of the 1990s, Jenkins became a Swansea RFC legend and his country’s most-capped hooker. A warrior on the pitch, he is one of Wales’ great scrummaging No. 2s and the subject of one of the most infamous photos in rugby history.

He became a committed Christian, went on to coach and has worked at the British Oxygen Gas and Gear Shop in Margam, also finding time to operate as a witty and perceptive radio pundit.

3. BEN EVANS

A formidable scrummager at tight-head prop during Wales’ winning run of 1999, Evans is another who struggled with his mental health at times when he found himself at a crossroads towards the end of his professional career. After hanging up his boots, he coached in England, Jersey and Australia, joining Western Sydney Two Blues as a set-piece coach in 2016.

He now lives in Sydney, where he runs his own recruitment business.

4. CRAIG QUINNELL

A member of one of Wales’ most famous rugby dynasties, the dry and witty Craig set the tone in the match when he bumped off Steve Hanley, who had been dubbed England’s ‘Jonah Lomu’.

These days, Quinnell is heavily involved with the family business Aquatreat, of which his father Derek is managing director and where brother Gavin also works.

5. CHRIS WYATT

The athletic forward was a natural athlete and Wales' go-to-man at the lineout at Wembley and beyond. Wyatt won 38 caps for Wales and played his club rugby for Newport, Neath, Scarlets and Munster before heading out to France where he represented Bourgoin and Aix-en-Provence.

Today, he lives in the south-east of France with his work involving transporting vehicles back and fore to the UK.

6. COLIN CHARVIS

Charvis went on to captain Wales and win 94 caps, while his club career saw him turn out for London Welsh, Swansea, Tarbes, Newcastle Falcons and the Dragons. He also toured with the Lions in 2001.

Today, the 51-year-old has his own carpet and general flooring business in Swansea, while he has also held a seat on the WRU Council. Last year, he was named as one of the players suing rugby's authorities over brain injuries.

7. BRETT SINKINSON

The tireless tackler was formidable at flanker but, like Howarth, got caught up in the Grannygate eligibility scandal. However, while the full-back never played for Wales again, the New Zealand-born Sinkinson eventually qualified on residency and took his tally of caps up to 20.

He is now back in New Zealand and has worked as a landscape gardener in the coastal city of Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty.

8. SCOTT QUINNELL

One of Wales' finest, the dual-code legend won 52 caps for Wales, including seven as captain. He has kept busy in retirement, presenting a radio show, holding acting roles, working as a pundit for Sky Sports and fronted TV shows including School of Hard Knocks and Stryd i'r Sgrym (Street to Scrum),