Born – 2nd May 1925 at Penygraig, South Wales.
Died – 25th September 2003 in Taunton, Somerset. (aged 78)
David Maldwyn Davies, a powerfully built forward, always known as ‘Dai’, played 17 times for Wales and 15 times for the British Lions, has died in Somerset, where he lived for over 50 years.
He schooled at Craig yr Eos in Penygraig, but as a teenager worked underground in the Naval Colliery, now the site of the local rugby club’s Graig Park.
His eldest brother Selwyn was killed during World War Two and Dai, who had already followed his father and grandfather into the Penygraig team, now joined another brother, Rhys, playing and working for the Somerset Police. He was a constable at Creech, St Michaels, near Taunton, for many years after
marrying his childhood sweetheart, Beryl.
Dai took over from Rghys as hooker for the Police in 1948-49 and early in the following season he he was a surprise choice in the second Welsh Trial against Cardiff’s John Phillips with the 1949 hooker ‘Bunner’ Travers of Newport having retired.
The third and final trial saw the two compete again and when the Wales side was selected to meet England at Twickenham, Davies was one of the six new caps under a new skipper, John Gwilliam.
Wales’s win by 11-5 was their first at Twickenham for 17 years and further wins against Scotland, Ireland and France gave Wales their first Triple Crown for 39 years, followed by the Championship and Grand Slam.
He was selected for the British tour of the Antipodes at end of that season, but the skipper was also a hooker, Ireland’s Dr Karl Mullen, who played in the first two tests against New Zealand.
Then, Davies played in the Third and Fourth tests and in the first tests in Australia, also playing against Ceylon in the final tour match at Colombo.
In 1951 he played in all the Championship matches and also for the Western Counties of England, Wales and the Babarians against the touring Springboks.
It was the Championship, Grand Slam and Triple Crown again for Wales in 1952 and in 1953 he appeared against Ireland and France and then the Wales side that defeated New Zealand by 13-8.
His international career ended after a 9-6 defeat to England and his matches were restricted to the Police, Somerset county and a match for a Rex Willis International XV at Penygraig, while on one occasion he turned out in Cardiff colours to play at Bridgwater.
Dai Davies leaves a wife (Beryl), two daughters and several grandchildren.
His funeral is in Taunton on Thursday, October 2.
