As the Welsh national side begin a campaign which charts an inevitable course to the dizzy heights of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, Guinness Pro14, Principality Premiership, Championship and club rugby throughout the home leagues also face a season of excitement and intensity, alongside the usual dose of competition, camaraderie and friendship.
And Davies has encouraged all in the Welsh rugby family to welcome the challenges ahead.
“Best wishes to all on the eve of a new season in Welsh Rugby, we have quite a year ahead in prospect,” said Davies.
“In the Principality Premiership and Championship promotion and relegation is back, bringing with it a renewed focus on Premiership rugby from our broadcast partners at BBC Wales.
“The new Celtic Cup competition, which the regions will use to develop young talent, is also intended to release Premiership clubs from the shackles of the development programme allowing them to truly compete for the title of the best club in Wales. It’s a big year for everyone at this level.”
Davies was keen to rally the support of the nation behind head coach Warren Gatland and his charges, as they enter the new season with a four match series at Principality Stadium this November, facing Scotland, Australia, Tonga and South Africa.
“I’m sure you’ll join me in also wishing Warren and his team well, as they kick-off preparations for the showpiece tournament in Japan by hosting Scotland in the Under Armour Series at Principality Stadium this autumn,” he continued.
“An array of new and exciting talent was on display when Wales toured Argentina – and faced South Africa in Washington DC – this summer and it will be fascinating to see who emerges from that impressive crop to seal those premium places on the plane which heads to East Asia in just over 12 months’ time.”
He also expressed empathy with any rugby clubs around Wales who will face a challenging year ahead off the pitch as well as on it and talked about the support on offer for those who are the beating heart of their communities.
Davies pointed to the rugby club in Caernarfon, which he visited recently, as an example of the kind of best practice he would like to find a way to ‘bottle’ and redistribute.
“Clubs like Caernarfon… boast over 300 children in their diverse junior section and they have got something right – it is our job to decipher what this is, bottle it and share it liberally around and we will continue, undeterred, on this mission,” he said.
“I know it is a tough environment out there for many clubs and we are constantly striving to provide the best means of support we can throughout the community game, to ensure the long term future of our national sport.
“We are making huge steps forward, we know the women’s and girls’ game is growing with each new season and our new disability rugby strategy is now in place as we look to expand participation in our game in as many areas as possible.
“There are great challenges ahead for some, but equally there are success stories at rugby clubs throughout the country with thriving junior sections and many clubs continuing as a hive of activity, providing the beating heart to the communities in which they reside.”
Finally the chairman, who was first elected to represent the clubs and as chair of the WRU Board in 2014, encouraged clubs to ensure they attend this year’s Annual General Meeting when a series of important issues are to be discussed and voted upon.
“I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at our Annual General Meeting in October, where I hope you will find yourselves able to support the important governance changes we are proposing, and as I travel around as many of our great clubs as possible during the season ahead,” he added.
