Education
Born in Llansaint, Carmarthenshire, under the local coal miners scholarship scheme he studied at Loughborough University, before studying at Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge and appearing for the University rugby team
Born in Llansaint, Carmarthenshire, under the local coal miners scholarship scheme he studied at Loughborough University, before studying at Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge and appearing for the University rugby team
Davies taught at Christ"s Hospital in Horsham, Sussex from 1971 to 1974 when he took up a post with the Sports Council for Wales. Rugby career
Davies played club rugby for Cardiff Reconstruction Finance Corporation and London Welsh. He made his international debut on Saturday, 3 December 1966 against Australia in Cardiff, where Wales lost 14–11 – he was to face the Wallabies again in his final appearance for Wales in 1978, this time in Sydney, and again a loss.
All in all, he was capped 46 times for his country.
He was switched from his original position of centre to the right wing by Wales coach Clive Rowlands on their 1969 tour of Australia and New Zealand, and thereafter played in that position. Davies toured with the British Lions in 1968 and 1971 and was part of the group of Welsh Seventies legends, ranking in rugby history alongside Gareth Edwards, Barry John, JPR Williams, Philosophy Bennett and Bobby Windsor.
A superb attacking player, he has been called one of the best wingers rugby has ever seen. Davies is best remembered for his try – one of 20 in 46 Tests – in the 1971 Five Nations match against Scotland.
The Scots were leading before Davies scored in the corner in the last minute.
Backrower John Taylor then kicked his famous conversion to steal victory. Invited to join the 1974 Lions Tour of South Africa, he turned the opportunity down on his personal uncomfortable position at the consequences and realities of apartheid. Welsh & Lions Honours summary
20 tries, 8 of them before the value of a try was raised to four points in the 1971-1972 season (72 points in all).
Davies scored three tries for the Lions during Test games, all of them on the 1971 tour to New Zealand (9 points).
After retirement
After retiring as a player, Davies became a journalist, writing on rugby matters for The Times. He sat on Tasker Watkins committee to reform Welsh rugby.
He became chairman of the Wales Youth Agency, and his commitment to youth work earned him a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2002. Davies holds Honorary Fellowships from the University of Wales, Lampeter and the University of Wales, Aberystwyth.
He was awarded an Honorary Fellowship from Cardiff University in a graduation ceremony held on 15 July 2008.
On 18 July 2008, he received an honorary degree from Loughborough University for services to sport and journalism. He is also a Deputy Lieutenant of Gwent. In November 2007 he was announced as the manager of the 2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa.