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Wendy Davis (rugby union)

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William Edward Norman Davis better known as Wendy Davis (7 September 1913 – c. 2002) was an international rugby union prop who represented Wales on three occasions and played club rugby for Cardiff. His international rugby career was curtailed by the outbreak of the Second World War but he continued to play as part of the British Army team.

William Edward Davies Davis
Birth nameWilliam Edward Norman Davis
Date of birth(1913-09-07)7 September 1913
Place of birthBirmingham, England
Date of deathc. 2002(2002-00-00) (aged 88–89)
Place of deathCirencester, England
SchoolCamp Hill School for Boys, Cardiff High School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1934–1939 Cardiff RFC 119 ()
Penarth RFC ()
Cardiff High School Old Boys ()
1939–1943 Barbarian F.C. 5 ()
– Army ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1939-1939 Wales[1] 3 (0)

Personal history

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Davis was born in Birmingham, England, in 1913.[1] He was educated at Camp Hill School for Boys in Birmingham, and then at Cardiff High School.[2] He ran a tannery.[2] With the outbreak of the Second World War Davis joined the British Army. The Who's Who of Welsh International Rugby Players states that Davis served in the Royal Artillery, but The London Gazette in 1940 lists him in the Royal Welch Fusiliers.[2][3][4] In retirement Davis moved to Cirencester where he died circa 2002.[1][2]

Rugby career

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Davis played rugby for both Camp Hill and Cardiff High while a youth. He joined Cardiff RFC during the 1934–35 season and remained at the club until the outbreak of war.[5] He played 119 matches for Cardiff[5] receiving his First XV cap during the 1934–35 season when he represented the club 15 times.[6] In the 1938–39 season, he was Cardiff's vice captain, under Wilf Wooler.[7] As well as Cardiff, Davis also played for local rivals Penarth RFC and Cardiff High School Old Boys.[2]

In 1939 Davis was selected to play for his first international match for Wales. His inaugural game was against England in the 1939 Home Nations Championship. Although Wales lost the opening game, Davis was on the winning side for both of the tournament's remaining matches against Scotland and Ireland.[8] Although the outbreak of the Second World War brought a close to international rugby, Davis continued to play, most often in charity war matches. In 1940 was chosen to represent the British Army, playing against France, and scored a rare try in a heavy 36–3 victory over the French.[9] As well as the Army team, Davis also played for touring invitational team the Barbarians. His first match for the Barbarians was before the war, playing against the East Midlands county team. He would play a further four matches for the team, all wartime charity matches between 1941 and 1943, against Thorneloe's XV (named after Leicester secretary J.E. Thorneloe who organised the games).[10][11] After retiring from playing rugby Davis worked as a summariser for the Welsh Home Service during the 1950s.[2]

International matches played

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Wales[12]

Bibliography

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  • Davies, D.E. (1975). Cardiff Rugby Club, History and Statistics 1876–1975. Risca: The Starling Press. ISBN 0950442100.
  • 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

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  1. ^ a b c "Wendy Davis – Wales". ESPN. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Jenkins, John M.; Pierce, Duncan; Auty, Timothy (1991). Who's Who of Welsh International Rugby Players. Wrexham: Bridge Books. p. 45. ISBN 1-872424-10-4.
  3. ^ "No. 34957". The London Gazette. 1 October 1940. p. 5778.
  4. ^ "Supplement to the London Gazette, 1 October 1934" (PDF). The London Gazette. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  5. ^ a b Davies (1975) p. 401
  6. ^ Davies (1975) p. 97
  7. ^ Davies (1975) p. 102
  8. ^ "Wendy Davis – Match by Match List". ESPN. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  9. ^ Richards, Huw (24 February 2010). "Wooller inspires British Army triumph". ESPN. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  10. ^ "W.E.N. Davis player profile". barbarianfc.co.uk. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  11. ^ Starmer-Smith, Nigel (1977). The Barbarians. Macdonald & Jane's Publishers. pp. 140–141. ISBN 0-8600-7552-4.
  12. ^ Smith (1980), p. 472.
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