For those who know their rugby, there can only be one Gerald. Possibly the finest winger of all me, Gerald Davies CBE played his part in the legendary Welsh team of the 1970s. With blistering pace and a devastang sidestep, Gerald was considered one of the most thrilling aacking players ever to grace the rugby field. “We were very lucky to have a group of players who came together at the same me.” says the former Lion. “For ten years, we played fabulous rugby and the most vivid memory I have of those mes was the club spirit we played with.” For the majority of the decade that he was playing for Cardiff and Wales, he was living in Rhiwbina. “Yes, we lived in Wenallt Road for six or seven years. I remember Rhiwbina being a convenient and comfortable place to live in. It was a nice area - full of good people. “The best thing about living in Rhiwbina was the fact that you could walk 100 yards and you’d be out in the countryside. We used to go for walks - we’d take our daughter up to the Wenallt. The views up there are spectacular - looking across to Caerphilly and out over the channel.” Gerald reminisces about Rhiwbina but confesses that he didn’t get too much of an opportunity to appreciate the village as much as he would have liked. “As rugby was sll an amateur sport at that me, most of my playing days were spent living out of a suitcase. Players in the modern game get paid to play and can devote all their me to training. In our case, we had to fit rugby around our day jobs. “That’s not to say that we were in any way beer than the players now -professionalism has made the game more dynamic. Taccs are different, styles have changed and players are bigger and more powerful,” says the man who was renowned for his speed. As he speaks however, it becomes clear that it’s not just fleet of foot that makes Gerald remarkable. His calming, soothing voice masks a rapier-like thinking. Gerald himself developed his speed as a sprinter and took inspiraon from two legends. “Carwyn James, I could see every Saturday down at Stradey Park, and the other player, who I never got to see that oen was Cliff Morgan.” In November 2007, Gerald was named as manager of the 2009 Brish and Irish Lions Tour. “The appointment of a coach is sll a way off. We’re speaking to the people who have been there before - the people who have succeeded, and we are going to see how things lie aer the Six Naons”. Photo couretsy of Western Mail In a 12 year, 46 cap career, Gerald Davies scored 20 tries for Wales. Gerald is now the tour manager for the Brish and Irish Lions Tour of South Africa in 2009. Interview Rugby Joys are Swi of Wing

Gerald Davies interview 2008

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Interview with rugby hero Gerald Davies. He talks about his career and living in Rhiwbina, North Cardiff. Taken from Rhiwbina Living magazine, spring 2008, before he embarked on the 2009 Lions Tour of South Africa.

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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