Sports Awards 2009

Lifetime Achievement:

 

John’s still going strong with Crymych

 

John Davies - Welsh International Rugby Player

Winner, Lifetime Achievement Category

Now 40 years old, John Davies played 34 times for Wales in rugby as a powerful prop, making his debut in 1991 against Ireland, and travelling all over the rugby-playing world, including the 1995 World Cup Finals in South Africa.
John started out his rugby at Ysgol y Preseli, playing for Pembrokeshire at every level, including youth, where he was capped for Wales over two seasons, starting in Italy a year young and later playing against England at Wellfield Road, Leicester.

All Blacks success

His coach with Wales Youth was Ron Waldron, who took him straight to Neath, where he was soon held in high esteem – and in the eight years he played for the All Blacks at the Gnoll they won a string of titles, including one season where they won all four pieces of silverware on offer, broke world records for number of tries and total points scored as he played alongside Kevin Phillips and Brian Williams as an all-Pembrokeshire front row.

Richmond and Llanelli star

From there it was off to Richmond in the English Premier League before returning to Wales with Llanelli, where his commitment ensured that he became only the second player to complete 100 games played for the Scarlets – and someone who was immensely popular with the Scarlets’ supporters because they recognised his whole-hearted approach..

Back to his roots

He also coached at the Scarlets but when he decided it was time to step down from the top level of rugby he returned to his roots at Crymych and in the 18 months since then he hasn’t missed a single game, helping them to promotion and setting the example for younger players in training. Most importantly, perhaps, he helps coach the club’s under 16 players and is setting them on the road to success.

Kind words

As a club spokesman said,
“We all look up to John Davies because he has done it all but is as modest as anyone could be. He gives 100% to the club and we are very lucky to have him.”

It was typical of John on the evening of the awards’ presentation that he spoke of his admiration for the others who had received awards, both young and a little older. He said that he had been lucky to have been paid for playing the sport he loved but it is also fair to say that he has brought great credit to Pembrokeshire over a long period and has flown the county’s flag with real distinction!