Will Davies (rugby union)

William Davies (14 February 1906 – 5 October 1975), known more commonly as "Sgili", was a Wales international rugby union player who played club rugby for Swansea. He won four caps for Wales and was part of the Welsh side that faced the touring South Africans in 1931.

Will Davies
Birth nameWilliam Davies[1]
Date of birth(1906-02-14)14 February 1906
Place of birthCwmgors, Wales
Date of death5 October 1975(1975-10-05) (aged 69)
Place of deathCwmgors, Wales
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1928–? Swansea RFC ()
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1931–1932 Wales[2] 4 (3)

Davies was originally a rugby scrum-half and centre, before moving into the forward, and eventually settling as a flanker. He faced the South Africans twice during their 1931 tour of Britain, once with Wales and once with Swansea. In the Swansea game, Davies set up his team's only score when he snapped up a loose ball, that broke loose after a South African tackle. He punted the ball forward for Claude Davey to beat the covering Springbok players to collect it and score a try.[3]

International rugby

Davies was first selected for Wales to face the South Africans in 1931 and although Wales lost the match 8–3, Davies scored the only Welsh points with a try. Davies showed considerable skill and maturity in a debut game when he timed his move on a loose ball to pick the correct bounce to kick the ball forward and then successfully chase it over the line.[4] Davies was back in the 1932 Home Nations Championship and was chosen to play against England at St Helens. Under the captaincy of Jack Bassett, Wales won the game 12–5, and three weeks later was chosen to face Scotland. His final game for Wales was against Ireland in a Championship decider that was lost when the normally dependable Jack Bassett missed the game's final conversion.

International matches played

Wales[5]

Bibliography
  • Billot, John (1974). Springboks in Wales. Ferndale: Ron Jones Publications.
  • Smith, David; Williams, Gareth (1980). Fields of Praise: The Official History of The Welsh Rugby Union. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. ISBN 0-7083-0766-3.

References
  1. Swansea RFC personal profiles
  2. Wales Rugby Union player profiles
  3. Billot (1976), pg 145.
  4. Billot (1976), pg 174.
  5. Smith (1980), pg 465.
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