Bateman ( The Clamp ) was a big crowd favourite at Warrington RLFC . His tackling was excellent and was a great attacking centre . He also played for Cronulla in the NRL , which again showcased his talents . Playing RL enhanced Batemans talents .
Watch this in a pub in Bridgend with some mates. Never felt such 1st Half Euphoria and 2nd Half Despondency like that since! Then the Henry era unfolded the following autumn and we were in Clover again (for a while at least...). I'm a caerau boy myself so I'm particularly proud of our Allan.
Used to live in Cronulla, just outside Sydney. Bateman would be sat having a coffee in the town centre. Always wanted to say hello to him. He was definitely a legend at that time and highly respected by Australians.
I'm an Aussie Rugby League referee living in Wales, had the pleasure to referee him here and he approached me at halftime asking where I was from. Had a great night in the club after the game chatting with him. One lovely bloke.
Im his bro and not being biest in any way not many players have done both codes and had the career he’s had the only one who’s done it that good is jiffy and he’s a good friend of Allan and like what the previous comment said we lost the best of Allan to rugby league and I was proud enough to see every single game he played 👏👏👏👏
Bateman was class. He should have started in the tests v SA in 1997 with Scott Gibbs. But McGeechan had a liking for Guscott having coached him for the Lions in 1989 and 1993. Bateman was unlucky and I am English. Bateman only got on when Guscott broke his arm after 40 mins of the 3rd test.
I think we came back and smashed them in the 2nd half but you can just see the first flickers of the Welsh revival in this game, their long lost mojo finally decided to wake up and blow off the cobwebs. Thank god it did. It's a shame you guys lost so many of your best players to RL in the decade prior to this. I remember Bateman being absolute class in this game even though he was about 57!
Think England and France were playing a different game at that time. The Welsh league just wasn't fit for purpose when the game went professional and the Welsh players were well behind in areas such as fitness. That changed when the number of professional teams in Wales reduced and the national side has been pretty competitive since then.
Was at this game and remember the team warming up with Bowring yelling and arguing with some players. It at least seemed that way from the stands. I sensed a bad omen and the result doesn’t lie.
The strangest game I have ever seen - have never seen Wales play as well as they did in the first 20 minutes, and then to just implode like they did to a record defeat.
Snedds even though i may have blocked this game out of memory being a Welshman and all im pretty sure Gareth Thomas's try was even better than that, any chance you have that?
as i recall wales very nearly came close to scoring a third try with a length of the field move shortly after this before some 'liberal' refereeing at the scrums by the southern hemisphere ref allowed england back into the game.......you didnt here england fans complaining about southern hemisphere refs then!
Bateman wasn't big or especially famous but he was one of the classiest centres Wales have had
He's definitely one of the most underrated players we've ever produced. I don't remember him ever having a bad game.
Born in maesteg say no more
Fabulous centre, his tackling was vicious, beautiful ball skills super fit and electric pace. One of maybe the best Welsh centre ever
1:23 Austin being a bell end. As usual.
Jealous of Bateman’s superior ability and talent
One of the best centres we have ever had.
Bateman ( The Clamp ) was a big crowd favourite at Warrington RLFC .
His tackling was excellent and was a great attacking centre .
He also played for Cronulla in the NRL , which again showcased his talents .
Playing RL enhanced Batemans talents .
Watch this in a pub in Bridgend with some mates. Never felt such 1st Half Euphoria and 2nd Half Despondency like that since! Then the Henry era unfolded the following autumn and we were in Clover again (for a while at least...). I'm a caerau boy myself so I'm particularly proud of our Allan.
Bateman was class.and still plays now in his 50's
Ha ha! Alan's 0lder than me and I'm in my 60's!! He was always believed t0 have kn0cked several years 0ff! But whatever his age, a superb player.
He's 58 now
bateman was perfect to play outside someone like gibbs
Used to live in Cronulla, just outside Sydney. Bateman would be sat having a coffee in the town centre. Always wanted to say hello to him. He was definitely a legend at that time and highly respected by Australians.
I'm an Aussie Rugby League referee living in Wales, had the pleasure to referee him here and he approached me at halftime asking where I was from. Had a great night in the club after the game chatting with him. One lovely bloke.
My favourite player ever. Class.
Class act both in Union and League.Very undervalued generally.
wow, barnes and harrison were even irritating back then!!!
A crowd favourite at Warrington.
Terrific tackler ,
Played in the NRL for Cronulla .
Bateman was a genius, unfortunately we lost his best years to Rugby League, where he was a star in the NRL
Im his bro and not being biest in any way not many players have done both codes and had the career he’s had the only one who’s done it that good is jiffy and he’s a good friend of Allan and like what the previous comment said we lost the best of Allan to rugby league and I was proud enough to see every single game he played 👏👏👏👏
Ahem! Stephen....it’s ‘biased’ my friend.
He is worshipped still at Warrington. Him and Kevin Ellis got mobbed by fans at Wembley in 2019. Top player and a top bloke as well.
..this looks like the sort of fantastic playing i remember as a child, from the best players.. maybe some day again 🙂
Bateman was class. He should have started in the tests v SA in 1997 with Scott Gibbs. But McGeechan had a liking for Guscott having coached him for the Lions in 1989 and 1993. Bateman was unlucky and I am English. Bateman only got on when Guscott broke his arm after 40 mins of the 3rd test.
I’m a Welshman, but Guscott wasn’t a bad player…
Both great players but Guscott dropped the goal to win the second test and the series. Can't argue with that really.
I think we came back and smashed them in the 2nd half but you can just see the first flickers of the Welsh revival in this game, their long lost mojo finally decided to wake up and blow off the cobwebs. Thank god it did. It's a shame you guys lost so many of your best players to RL in the decade prior to this. I remember Bateman being absolute class in this game even though he was about 57!
Think England and France were playing a different game at that time. The Welsh league just wasn't fit for purpose when the game went professional and the Welsh players were well behind in areas such as fitness. That changed when the number of professional teams in Wales reduced and the national side has been pretty competitive since then.
His nickname was "the clamp". Never missed a tackle.
Was at this game and remember the team warming up with Bowring yelling and arguing with some players. It at least seemed that way from the stands. I sensed a bad omen and the result doesn’t lie.
Pure class centreq League or union and a British Lion. Silent assassin! Did the talking on the pitch
I wish you'd post the whole game, for goodness sake.
The strangest game I have ever seen - have never seen Wales play as well as they did in the first 20 minutes, and then to just implode like they did to a record defeat.
Great player
what a player!
60-26 England. Worst day of my life.
Alan Bateman was wales best centre so world class
Can't believe how well Wales started off in this match and then got battered
healey just cant help himself
cardigan3000 well said butt. Healy shows real envy towards a greater player and man in Bateman.
Two great tries, especially the second one.....however....England went on and tonked us by 60+ points :-(
they did go through a phase of sticking a lot of points on us!
And then we got hammered!
Saw him in Malloys in Bridgend the other week
What was Austin Healey doing at the end? He always has to ruin it doesn’t he 😂
Can someone upload full match ?
In the tip 3 welsh backs of all
Time
Snedds even though i may have blocked this game out of memory being a Welshman and all im pretty sure Gareth Thomas's try was even better than that, any chance you have that?
It was nice when shirts "billowed" in the wind, none of this footy jersey nonsense.
It's terrible getting old ;-)
Hit by Scott Gibbs....
@mizofan A great guy off the pitch too.
Real Rugby
@GrungeRocker1000 yes
@mizofan He works in a hospital now.
as i recall wales very nearly came close to scoring a third try with a length of the field move shortly after this before some 'liberal' refereeing at the scrums by the southern hemisphere ref allowed england back into the game.......you didnt here england fans complaining about southern hemisphere refs then!
Batman!
Have to laugh, the final score was 60-26 to England..
I Kno you wouldnt believe it! Pmsl
what is austin doing haha
Close game at the end; England 60 wales 26.....
hahaha - yeah it went a bit down hill after that lol...he was a great player though..
2nd try healey doing the dirty resentment evil extras. little shyte.
wtf Hay on Wye
England got everything they deserved after a pathetic attempt at a DG instead of playing to score tries.
Saw him in Malloys in Bridgend the other week