Davies, who would become a Cardiff rugby club stalwart, take over the Wales fly-half mantle from Phil Bennet, play for the British & Irish Lions and turn-out 21 times for his country, including five as captain – against the likes of Australia and New Zealand, as well as Five Nations opposition – never faced Tonga as an international.
He wasn’t wearing the blue and black of Cardiff RFC either when he entered the field as an 18-year-old schoolboy in the year Nixon resigned, Ali fought Foreman in the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’, the average UK house went for just over £9,000 and match programmes cost 10p.
He was wearing white, a Llanelli change kit, and was called upon to take over from incumbent fly-half Bernard Thomas, who was injured in a heavy tackle and ‘retired’ to an early bath.
For Davies is was a possible ‘sliding doors’ moment in the days when replacements were used much more sparingly: he’d been given a lift to the ground by the same uncle Einar who’d been taking him to Stradey Park, to watch, since he’d been 11 years of age.
“This time I left uncle Einar for the changing room as he took up his seat in the stand,” recalls Davies, taking up the story in this Saturday’s match programme (which costs £5).
“I joined the game from the bench at fly-half after Bernard left the field with a head injury, after a typically tough Tongan tackle.
“Phil Bennet was already a Lion and in his pomp, but rested, as were Roy Bergiers, JJ Williams and Tommy David.
“But we still had the likes of Ray Gravell, Derek Quinnell and, our captain and future Wales national coach, Gareth Jenkins to rely on.
“Our own coach, Carwyn James, was determined the club side that had beaten New Zealand just two years earlier would not lose to our Pacific Island visitors.
“It was a game that was influential in my own playing career, shown live on TV on a wet Tuesday evening, I was ‘spotted’ by some scouts for Cardiff Rugby Club.
“I was a wide-eyed youngster privileged to face a national side from the bench, but I was soon off to University in Cardiff and was invited to train with them after they’d seen me on the TV and I went on from there.
“It was a good bit of old school poaching now I look back on it, but I have the people of Tonga to thank too for helping me on my way.”
The match was a close affair ending just 24-15 in Llanelli’s favour in front of a 14,000-strong crowd and Davies’ career excelled from that point. He also made an acquaintance he hopes to renew this weekend in Sione Mafi, whose grandson starts for Tonga at lock at Principality Stadium on Saturday.
“Tonga’s captain on the day was the great No8 Sione Mafi,” adds Davies.
“It was a privilege to play against him and his side, just as it will be to watch his grandson Sitiveni this weekend.”
