The picture above of John Davies was taken during the match against
England in Cardiff.
Career Record: Played 34, Won 16, Drawn 1, Lost 17
Test Points: 5
Tries: 1.
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The Neath tight-head John Davies was widely regarded as one of the best players in his position inworld rugby. A farmer, he was remarkably strong in the scrum with few opponents getting the better of him. He was also a very mobile player with an uncanny knack of popping-up in try-scoring positions. John made his debut in 1991 in a draw with Ireland at the Arms Park. Defeat followed against the French and Davies did not play appear on the international scene again until the 1993 season - he was recalled and appeared as a replacement against France as Wales again picked up the Wooden Spoon in 1993.
Happier times followed with a try for John in the defeat of Zimbabwe in Harare in 1993 (second test), but it wasn't until the 1994 season that he fully cemented his place in the Welsh fifteen. With Alan Davies, the ex-Nottingham coach in charge, Welsh rugby underwent a mini-revival and only England denied the Welsh a ninth Grand Slam in 1994. It was no coincidence that this improvement saw a return to the selection of forwards not adverse to getting their hands dirty. No-one typified this spirit more than Davies - he was hard-working, rugged and dynamic. Sadly, he will be remembered as the fifth Welshman to be sent off in international rugby. Playing against England in 1995, Davies was dismissed for allegedly stamping on Ben Clarke in a ruck.
Television replays proved inconclusive and all opponents would testify that Davies was a hard player but not a 'dirty' one. John was then selected to play in the 1995 World Cup in South Africa but misery followed as again Wales did not make it past the group stages. In 1996 all the Home Nations defeated Wales. Inexplicably, Kevin Bowring, the Welsh coach, then dropped Davies after a victory in Italy. John was one of only a handful of truly world-class players in the team. However, Bowring wasn't the first Welsh coach to mis-understand the murky world of the front-row. International props undoubtedly breathed a collective sigh of relief. John was recalled to tour South Africa in 1998 but was part of the Welsh side that were defeated 96-13 in Pretoria. It was a sad and humiliating way to end an international career - he deserved better. (John Lovell)
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The photograph of Welsh Rugby International John Davies was taken on 19th. Febraury 1994
by George Herringshaw ©
Welsh Caps 1991-98.
1991 v Ireland (Cardiff) D 21-21 (FN)
1991 v France (Paris) L 36-3 (FN)
1993 v France (R) (Paris) L 26-10 (FN)
1993 v Zimbabwe (Harare) W 42-13
1993 v Japan (Cardiff) W 55-5
1993 v Canada (Cardiff) L 26-24
1994 v Scotland (Cardiff) W 29-6 (FN)
1994 v Ireland (Dublin) W 17-15 (FN)
1994 v France (Cardiff) W 24-15 (FN)
1994 v England (Twickenham) L 15-8 (FN)
1994 v Portugal (Lisbon) W 102-11
1994 v Spain (Madrid) W 54-0
1994 v Canada (Toronto) W 33-15
1994 v Western Samoa (Moamoa) L 34-9
1994 v Romania (Bucharest) W 16-9
1994 v Italy (Cardiff) W 29-19
1994 v South Africa (Cardiff) L 20-12
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1995 v France (Paris) L 21-9 (FN)
1995 v England (Cardiff) L 23-9 (FN)
1995 v Japan (Bloemfontein) W 57-10 (World Cup)
1995 v New Zealand (Joburg) L 34-9 (World Cup)
1995 v Ireland (Joburg) L 24-23 (World Cup)
1995 v South Africa (Joburg) L 40-11
1996 v Italy (Rome) W 31-26
1996 v England (Twickenham) L 21-15 (FN)
1996 v Scotland (Cardiff) L 16-14 (FN)
1996 v Ireland (Dublin) L 30-17 (FN)
1996 v France (Cardiff) W 16-15 (FN)
1996 v Australia (Brisbane) L 56-25
1996 v Barbarians (Cardiff) W 31-10
1996 v France (Cardiff) L 40-33
1996 v Italy (Rome) W 31-22
1998 v Zimbabwe (Harare) W 49-11
1998 v South Africa (Pretoria) L 96-13
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