OBITUARY – MARTYN DAVIES

Martyn Davies holds a very special place in Welsh rugby history because he was captain of Neath in the club’s centenary year of 1971/72 and it was he who became the first captain to hold aloft the Welsh Cup and to then carry it on its now customary “lap of honour” around the old Cardiff Arms Park.

Martyn played locally for BP Llandarcy, Neath Athletic and Tonna but, having debuted for Neath in 1963, he will forever be associated with the Welsh All Blacks for whom he went on to make a Club record 511 appearances up to his retirement in 1977.

He was a member of the Neath side that won the Snelling Sevens for the first time in 1964 and shared the scrum-half role with his great mate Dai Parker during Neath’s Welsh championship success in 1966/67. He captained Neath for four seasons with that inaugural Cup win was probably the highlight of his career.

Along with scrum-halves of the calibre of Glyn Turner (Ebbw Vale) and Selwyn Williams (Llanelli), Martyn had to be content with a Wales ‘B’ cap because his career had the misfortune to coincide with that of the great Gareth Edwards whose prowess was such that Ray Hopkins (Maesteg) and Clive Shell (Aberavon) won but a single cap each.

But Martyn was an extremely astute tactician and as brave a scrum-half as there was. Memories of Martyn’s dive-pass and the sight of him wagging his finger at the big All Black forwards in front of him will live for ever. After his playing days, Martyn put his wealth of experience to immediate use by becoming Neath’s coach and he served on the Club’s Management Committee.

His influence extended beyond Neath too as he was an executive member of WRU District ‘D’ and he then became coach of the Welsh Youth team that progressed so many players to senior international honours. Very much an all-round sportsman, Martyn was also a very agile wicketkeeper for both Neath and Ynysygerwn Cricket Clubs.

Outside sport, Martyn started work as a wages clerk with the old Neath Borough Council before working for a time at BP Llandarcy. He then undertook teacher training at Cardiff Training College (now UWIC) and enjoyed a very successful career becoming headmaster at Blaenhonddan Junior School in Bryncoch and he was then involved in education administration.

Last season, he was a regular visitor to The Gnoll as he maintained a watchful eye on the development of some of the younger All Blacks talents. He was as delighted as anyone by the All Blacks’ success in carrying off the Welsh title for the 12th time and was most concerned that Neath should make it 13 in 2005/06.

The Neath club will not be the same without Martyn Davies who will be sorely missed by all who knew him.