Gerald Davies interview 2008

For those who know their rugby,there can only be one Gerald.

Possibly the finest winger of all,me, Gerald Davies CBE playedhis part in the legendary Welshteam of the 1970s. With blisteringpace and a devasta,ng sidestep,Gerald was considered one of themost thrilling a-acking playersever to grace the rugby field.

“We were very lucky to have agroup of players who cametogether at the same ,me.” saysthe former Lion. “For tenyears, we played fabulous rugbyand the most vivid memory I haveof those ,mes was the club spiritwe played with.”

For the majority of the decadethat he was playing for Cardiffand Wales, he was living inRhiwbina.

“Yes, we lived in Wenallt Roadfor six or seven years. I rememberRhiwbina being a convenient andcomfortable place to live in. Itwas a nice area - full of goodpeople.

“The best thing about living inRhiwbina was the fact that youcould walk 100 yards and you’dbe out in the countryside. Weused to go for walks - we’d takeour daughter up to the Wenallt.The views up there arespectacular - looking across toCaerphilly and out over thechannel.”

Gerald reminisces aboutRhiwbina but confesses that hedidn’t get too much of anopportunity to appreciate thevillage as much as he would haveliked.

“As rugby was s,ll an amateursport at that ,me, most of myplaying days were spent living outof a suitcase. Players in themodern game get paid to playand can devote all their ,me totraining. In our case, we had to fitrugby around our day jobs.

“That’s not to say that we werein any way be-er than the playersnow -professionalism has madethe game more dynamic. Tac,cs

are different, styles have changedand players are bigger and morepowerful,” says the man who wasrenowned for his speed.

As he speaks however, itbecomes clear that it’s not justfleet of foot that makes Geraldremarkable. His calming, soothingvoice masks a rapier-like thinking.

Gerald himself developed hisspeed as a sprinter and tookinspira,on from two legends.

“Carwyn James, I could seeevery Saturday down at StradeyPark, and the other player, who Inever got to see that o�en wasCliff Morgan.”

In November 2007, Gerald wasnamed as manager of the 2009Bri,sh and Irish Lions Tour.

“The appointment of a coach iss,ll a way off. We’re speaking tothe people who have been therebefore - the people who havesucceeded, and we are going tosee how things lie a�er the SixNa,ons”.

Photo couretsy of Western Mail

In a 12 year, 46 cap career, Gerald Davies scored 20 triesfor Wales. Gerald is now the tour manager for the Bri,sh

and Irish Lions Tour of South Africa in 2009.

Interview

RugbyJoys areSwi of

Wing