When Anthony 'Ianto' Davies walked into the changing rooms at St Davids RFC before their home match in Division Three A (West) against Laugharne he told them, in his typically unassuming manner, that this was to be his last match for The Saints, they were taken aback, to say the least, but gave him a standing ovation.
 
Ianto explained that damage to his shoulder necessitated an operation and that the time had come for treatment that would effectively cause him to step down from a game he has played for almost four decades after he started out as a nipper with Tredegar Ironsides, in Gwent.
 

Jack recognises Ianto’s commitment

 
Because although 'Ianto' is now 47 years of age he was still very much a cornerstone of the Saints' pack and will be sorely missed because in his five years or so he has rightly earned a reputation of never taking a backward step and being ever-ready to support less experienced players in games where they have sometimes lost heavily.
 
As Jack Dudley, another club stalwart told us,
"We have been so lucky to have 'Ianto' for as long as we have done because we originally asked him to help us out for a couple of matches and he's played or coached us ever since, inspiring young players and being our best forward throughout his time.
 
"His commitment is total and he will be sadly missed by us all."
 

Honoured with captaincy for the day

 
After a quickly-convened meeting between the skipper Rhys ‘Loshin’ Price and coach 'Taff’' Williams it was agreed that Rhys should hand over the captaincy for the day to 'Ianto', who gave the pre-match talk and then led the team out onto the pitch.
 
As usual he played his part in the Saints' battle plans but there was to be no fairy-tale ending because his team lost quite heavily.
 
"I'm not an emotional player," Ianto told us, "but I was moved by the response, and was gutted we lost as I drove out of the car park."
 
And although 'Ianto' is not likely to play again he did turn up at Laugharne the following week for the return fixture to cheer the team on - complete with his shoulder safely ensconced in a sling after his operation!
 

Early start with Ironsides in Gwent

 
He had started out in rugby at the tender age of seven at Tredegar Ironsides, where his late father, Tony Davies, had been a committee man and life member.
"It was eight a side mini rugby in those days and we chased around the field like flies around a honey pot but I enjoyed it from the start.
 
"I stayed there until I was 19 and  joined the Gwent Police after my school days at Tredegar Comprehensive, where my head teacher was famous Welsh giant back row man Alun Pask, with Dai Hoyle and Goff Davies as teachers, both of whom played at the top level of club rugby.
 

Represented the police – and Pontypool & District

 
"My police sergeant was coaching Raglan RFC and he 'persuaded' me to join them and I also played for the Gwent Police side for many years - and when I switched forces to Dyfed Powys we beat Northamptonshire in the final of the British Police Cup Final at Coventry, with players of the calibre of front rowers Kevin and Lee Jones, plus Steve Williams from Haverfordwest.
 
"Whilst with Raglan I represented Pontypool and District Rugby Union for three seasons against the likes of Pembroke and District (at Bierspool, Pembroke Dock Quins), North Wales (in Rhyl) and Carmarthenshire.
 
"We were guaranteed a county tie after three games, a blazer badge after six and a cap after 10 games - and I missed out on my cap by just one match!
 
"Then I joined Usk for two seasons because another of my sergeants was involved there and then went home to Tredegar Ironsides because it was much closer to home and cut down my travel to training and match days.
 

Transferred to Haverfordwest

 
"It was at this stage that I transferred to Dyfed Powys Police and 15 years ago I arrived in Haverfordwest and joined The Blues, where I was made very welcome by the players, coaches and supporters.
 
"I played there for about three seasons before I was invited to be player/coach at Llangwm , alongside Alan McClelland, after taking my level two certificate when I was in Gwent. I had a good time at Pill Parks alongside decent players like Richard Scriven, Nick Phillips, Hamish Nicholls and Johnny James, and we finished in mid table.
 
"Then I rejoined Haverfordwest to coach with Andy Morgan and enjoyed working alongside the likes of Steve Williams, Gareth Green, Alun Harries, Richard Brazell, Simon Lepetit and Dafydd Bowen.
 

Went to St Davids for two weeks – and stayed five years!

 
'Ianto' finally decided it was time to retire since he was past the 40 mark but had a call to help give The Saints a couple of coaching sessions, and perhaps play on those Saturdays to help out. He agreed, started to enjoy the genuine camaraderie at the club - and has stayed there ever since, apart from one spell where injuries kept him out of action.
 
One of those who holds 'Ianto' in high regard is Fraser Watson, the Western Telegraph sports reporter who is now back with the club after a spell with Whitland.
 
"'Ianto' was rightly chosen as the 'Player of the Year in 2008/9 and led the club on a tour to his old haunts in Gwent, visiting some of his old clubhouses and some 'interesting' pubs where we were glad he was with us!
 
"I remember him turning up for training after a night of police work at a Swansea City versus Cardiff City match at the Liberty Stadium. He had a tooth missing from a beer can during some crowd trouble but was totally unfazed and trained with total commitment, as he did normally.
 

Huge praise from Fraser

 
"I will openly say that 'Ianto' was one of the best forwards I ever played with at any level. He is an excellent ball carrier and tackler who never shirks anything on the pitch, and is never fazed by the size of the opposition or the scoreline.
 
"He is a quiet man but hard as nails physically, someone whom the younger players look up to and when he spoke people in our club listened to what he had to say!"
 

And finally . . .

 
So what of the future for someone who has been so immersed in rugby?
"I have always had support from my wife Carolyn, who is also a police officer and happy that I have decided to step down from the game so that I won't have to strap up my injuries and will have more time at weekends for her and our daughter Beau (6).
 
"We have a camper van so perhaps we will spend more time touring or even visit son Robert, who works in Dunedin, New Zealand, selling New Zealand rugby kit!
 
"I will certainly miss the camaraderie but not the aches and pains."
 
Club stalwarts Fraser Watson, Jack Dudley, Rhys 'Loshin' Price and John James were all in agreement that they will miss Anthony 'Ianto' Davies - who has served St Davids so well in his time there!