Gareth Davies (rugby player, born 1955)

Gareth Davies

Full name	William Gareth Davies
Date of birth	(1955-09-29) 29 September 1955
Place of birth	Carmarthen, Wales
University	University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology (UWIST) Oxford University
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-half Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1977 Oxford University RFC Cardiff RFC () National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1978–1985 1980  Wales British and Irish Lions 21 1 (38) (8)

William Gareth Davies (born 29 September 1955) is a former Wales and British and Irish Lions international rugby union player.^[1]

Early and personal life

Born in Carmarthen, he was educated in Llanelli. Davies was an all-round sportsman, representing Welsh schools at cricket and played for Glamorgan County Cricket Club's second eleven. He then studied chemistry at the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology (UWIST), later University of Wales, Cardiff, and later studied for his teaching qualifications at St Catherine's College, Oxford.^[2][3]

Married to Fiona, Davies has two adult daughters.^[4]

Rugby career

Davies played for Cardiff RFC for 12 years, during the amateur era of rugby, representing the club in over 380 games and amassing 3500 points- still a club record. His drop-goal helped UWIST win the 1976 UAU Cup Final, beating University of Wales, Swansea, 6-4. He also represented Oxford in the 1977 Varsity Match.

During this time he gained 21 Welsh caps, captaining them five times, and winning a Triple Crown. He toured with the British and Irish Lions to South Africa in 1980, and injured his knee in the second test at Bloeemfontein.He resigned from the Welsh team in 1985 after the No.10 shirt was scheduled out as A.N. Other for the game against England at home at the Cardiff Arms Park, which allowed Jonathan Davies (rugby player born 1962)|Jonathan Davies]] his first cap.

Professional career

After retirement from rugby, he became Assistant Director of the CBI Wales, and then head of sport for BBC Wales from 1988. In 1994 he was appointed Chief Executive of Cardiff Athletic Club/Cardiff Rugby Football Club, where in 1995 he re-signed Jonathan Davies back from his time playing Rugby League as Rugby Union turned professional. In 1999 he joined S4C as Commissioning Editor for Sports and Events. He was also chairman of the Sports Council for Wales, and director of Welsh Affairs for the Royal Mail. In 2006 he joined the Welsh Development Agency, heading the Sydney, Australia office.

In January 2009 Davies was appointed as Dean of the Carnegie Faculty at Leeds Metropolitan University.^[5] The faculty provides courses in sport, education, languages and Events, tourism and hospitality, and in 2009 was named the UK Centre for Coaching Excellence, which will help coaches to develop the sporting stars of the future with the aim of making the UK become the leading coaching nation in the world by 2016.^[4] Davies is no longer Dean at Leeds Metropolitan University.^[6] In September 2013 Gareth took on the role of CEO of Welsh professional rugby team Newport Gwent Dragons.http://www.newportgwentdragons.com/News/Article/30379 In July 2014 Gareth's name was put forward by Peter Thomas ( owner of Cardiff RFC / Cardiff Blues) to succeed Gerald Davies on the board of the Welsh Rugby Union. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/dragons-ceo-gareth-davies-backed-7398838 Davies was elected Chairman of the WRU on October 21 2014

References