Jack Dudley – a larger-than-life character at St Davids RFC
Jack Dudley has been involved with St Davids RFC for over 50 years and richly deriving of our new ‘Sporting Stars’ badge as a small token of our regard, writes Bill Carne.
He is very much a larger-than-life character who is known around the county for his loyalty to The Saints from the time he scored piles of tries at Ysgol Ty Ddewi and was still involved helping out as a player up until just before Covid, when he was 56!
Even today he is heavily involved as team manager and is delighted that The Saints are at last beginning to build a relatively strong squad as Bruce Evans helps out as coach, using his expertise and Jack is eager to recruit another experienced recruit before the season starts!
Tries galore in schools’ rugby
Jack played his first game for St David’s School, with Mr Dai Davies, as an 11-year-old in the No 8 role and using the fact that he was a big boy even then - grabbed four tries, an average scoring rate he managed to maintain for a couple of seasons!
“I was a year ahead of very good players like Rowland Phillips and Meredith Richards and I played a few games for the county but was up against good players from Milford Haven like Richard James and Phillip ‘Texas’ Tee.”
Youth rugby in college – and won Welsh Youth silverware too
He left school at 16 and went to the Pembrokeshire College and played for the county as coach Richard ‘Stag’ James was in charge - and at the same time he was already playing senior rugby for St Davids.
The only time that Jack missed a season at St Davids came for a very good reason - he was playing for Llanelli alongside legends like backs Ray Gravell and Roy Bergiers, plus fellow props Anthony Buchanan and Laurence Delaney.
“I had just come back from a St Davids’ Youth tour to Jersey where the rest of the players had shaved my head when I was asleep so I looked a real skinhead when I played in the second row for Pembrokeshire as we won the Welsh Youth Cup Final with quality players like Rowland Phillips and Michael Holding.
Joined The Scarlets for a season
“Gareth Jenkins was the coach then and he was a great motivator and I think it was Roy Bergiers who gave ‘Jenks’ my name and I was invited up to Stradey Park.
“Things went well but I couldn’t drive in those days and so dad took me to Haverfordwest and Peter Morgan used to give me a lift up for training twice a week and for matches if he was involved.
“Some friends used to help if I was desperate but it was a real hassle that came to a head when I was picked to play against Bristol (away) on New Year’s Eve, one of two occasions when I played alongside Ray Gravell, and we were pleased with our win.
Decided to return to Ty Ddewi
“After a couple of pints there we got back to Llanelli and I managed to get a lift back to Haverfordwest but then struggled to get back to St Davids, where I was so late, I found myself locked out of the celebrations in the rugby club!
“When Huw Williams-Jones joined The Scarlets from the South Wales Police I knew it was going to be hard going so I decided I wanted to play at home, although I was approached by a couple of other clubs.”
Over 40 years now with St Davids
In the 40 intervening years the best The Saints have done was a semi-final spot in the KO Cup where they drew at home with Pembroke Dock Quins but lost the replay at Bierspool.
Jack has also been team coach on several occasions and was captain for five seasons, something he enjoyed on the pitch but not chasing around for players on the morning before leaving for away matches.
“I would say I have been lucky to work with great club men like John James and Brian Francis and played alongside some fantastic players in Gud Cartwright, Dai Bennett, Martin Walsh, Ianto Davies, Mike Lamb, Carwyn Richards and Eddie Bolger.
Loads of battles with other local lads
“I’ve relished playing against some great opponents like Ossie Boswell, Lenny and Roy Scourfield (Quins); Andrew Rose, Peter Kidney, Gethin Evans and Nigel Merroney (Tenby); Randal Evans, John Griffiths, Derek Coles, Brian ‘Ginger’ Davies (Haverfordwest); Peter ‘Rocket’ Evans, Willie Myles and Romeo Colella (Fishguard); Mark Keyworth (Aberystwyth); Peter Davies (Neyland) and Richard Scriven (Llangwm). I could name another 50 but I thought it was time to stop there!”
That remark was typical of Big Jack because he underplays all that he does at St Davids but we at PembrokeshireSport.co.uk know what a great clubman he is, a true sportsman and smashing friend - and it is like having a breath of fresh air when we bump into him in St Davids RFC.
We were delighted to present him with our ‘Sporting Star’ badge in recognition of all his work for St Davids RFC – and in the 2026/27 season he is carrying on his yeoman work there, which includes being their unofficial press officer for people like us!