Glyn Davies (rugby player)

Glyn Davies (24 August 1927 – 7 November 1976)[1] was a Welsh international rugby union fly-half who played club rugby for a large selection of clubs but most notably for Pontypridd and Cambridge University. He won eleven international caps for Wales including a win over the touring 1947 Australia team. Described as a mercurial outside half, Davies was notable for his sidestep and ability to change pace and direction with ease.[2][3]

Glyn Davies

Birth name	Glyn Davies
Date of birth	(1927-08-24)24 August 1927
Place of birth	Cilfynydd, Wales
Date of death	7 November 1976(1976-11-07) (aged 49)
Place of death	Bristol, England
Height	5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight	11 st (154 lb; 70 kg)
School	Pontypridd Grammar School
University	St Catharine's College, Cambridge
Occupation(s)	wine merchant
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-half Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) ? 1945–1949 ? 1947–1948 1948–1950 1951 ? ? ? 1948– ? Cilfynydd RFC Cardiff RFC Glamorgan Wanderers RFC Pontypridd RFC Cambridge University Newport RFC Clifton RFC Bristol Rugby The Army Barbarian F.C. Gloucestershire () National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1947–1951 Wales 11 0

He was the brother-in-law of Welsh opera singer Sir Geraint Evans.[4]

Rugby career

Davies first played rugby as a schoolboy for Pontypridd Grammar School. After the end of the Second World War, while still a schoolboy he represented a Welsh team in two Victory internationals.[4] Davies played his early club rugby for local team Cilfynydd RFC and sporadically he played for other more notable teams, playing his first game of four for Cardiff in the 1945/46 season. He joined Pontypridd where his natural ability was polished by endless training sessions under the tutorship of groundsman Dick Coates.[5] It was while with Pontypridd that Davies was first called to the Wales national squad. His first cap was against Scotland in the 1947 Five Nations Championship, partnered at fly half with Haydn Tanner. Wales were comfortable winners, but the next game Davies was replaced by Billy Cleaver and Davies failed to be reselected for the rest of the campaign. In December 1947 Davies was chosen for his second Welsh international game, a 6–0 victory over the touring Australian team, this time partnered with Handel Greville.[6]

When Davies matriculated at St Catharine's College, Cambridge he gained a place in the Cambridge University rugby team, and won three 'Blues' by playing in the Varsity matches between 1948 and 1950. 1948 also saw Davies play the entirety of the Five Nations Championship, linking again with Tanner in all four matches. During the 1948/49 season Davies was selected to play for touring invitational team the Barbarians.[7] 1949 saw Davies play in three of the Five Nations Championship matches, yet again in partnership with Tanner. The 1949 encounter against England is recognisied as one of his finest displays. During the match, he took advantage of Tanner's trade mark long passes to cut through the English defence to set up two tries for Les Williams.[3] Davies was replaced by Cleaver in the Ireland encounter of 1949, and the next season the Welsh selectors decided to adopt Cleaver and Rex Willis at the half back positions.[8]

Although not selected for Wales in 1950, Davies was made captain of the Cambridge University team that season, and led the team to a win over Oxford University at that year's Varsity Match. Neither team showed much quality in their play, though it is reported that Davies' 'erratic brilliance' was seldom offered full scope by his partner or his forwards.[9]

In 1951, Davies played eleven games for Newport, entering the team as a short term replacement for regular Newport fly-half Roy Burnett, who was forced to withdraw from the team after an injury.[10] 1951 was also the final year of Davies' international career. Called into the Wales squad for the two opening matches of the 1951 Five Nations Championship, and partnered by Willis, he was replaced by Cliff Morgan and never represented Wales again. In the 1950s Davies turned out for Clifton and Bristol and played county rugby for Gloucestershire.[2]

International matches played

Wales[11]

•  Australia 1947
•  England 1948, 1949, 1951
•  Ireland 1948
•  France 1948, 1949
•  Scotland 1947, 1948, 1949, 1951

Bibliography

• Griffiths, John (1987). The Phoenix Book of International Rugby Records. London: Phoenix House. ISBN 0-460-07003-7.
• Smith, David; Williams, Gareth (1980). Fields of Praise: The Official History of The Welsh Rugby Union. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. ISBN 0-7083-0766-3.

References

1. Glyn Davies player profile ESPN Scrum.com
2. Glyn Davies Clifton Rugby Football Club History
3. Smith (1980), p. 308.
4. Jenkins, John M.; et al. (1991). Who's Who of Welsh International Rugby Players. Wrexham: Bridge Books. p. 40. ISBN 1-872424-10-4.
5. Davies (1980), p. 307
6. Griffiths (1987), p. 4:27
7. Starmer-Smith, Nigel (1977). The Barbarians. Macdonald & Jane's Publishers. p. 220. ISBN 0-86007-552-4.
8. Griffiths (1987) p, 4:26
9. Owen, O.L., ed. (1952). Playfair Rugby Football Annual 1951–52. London: Playfair Books Ltd. p. 80.
10. Glyn Davies Newport player profile Archived 17 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine BlackandAmbers.co.uk
11. Smith (1980), p. 464.