Gerald Davies

Thomas Gerald Reames Davies CBE (born 7 February 1945 in Llansaint) is one of the acknowledged greats of Welsh rugby, playing for the side between 1966 and 1978.

Davies studied at Loughborough University and the University of Cambridge and played club rugby for Cardiff RFC and London Welsh. He captained Cardiff for three seasons in the 1970s, his most famous game for Cardiff probably being a 1977-8 Welsh Cup game against Pontypool when he scored four tries(easily beating his marker and near namesake Gareth Davies on each occasion) to earn his side a 16-11 win.

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 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 and Irish 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, Phil 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.

After retiring as a player, Davies became a journalist, writing on rugby matters for The Times. He 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 the 15th of July 2008 [cite web|url=http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/news/articles/honorary-fellowships-awarded.html|accessdate=2008-07-08|title=Honorary Fellowships awarded|publisher=Cardiff University] .

In November 2007 he was announced as the manager of the 2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7103531.stm Davies named 2009 Lions manager, BBC website 20 November 2007] ] .

On July 18th 2008, he received an honourary degree from Loughborough University for services to sport and journalism.

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