John Leighton Davies

John Leighton Davies (24 August 1927[1] – April 1995) was a Welsh rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s. He played representative level rugby union (RU) for Glamorgan County RFC, and at club level for Neath RFC, and club level rugby league (RL) for Wakefield Trinity (Heritage № 571), as a centre, i.e. number 3 or 4.

John Leighton Davies
Personal information
Full nameJohn Leighton Davies
Born(1927-08-24)24 August 1927
Skewen, Wales
DiedApril 1995 (aged 67–68)
Wakefield, England
Playing information
Height6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight15 st 0 lb (95 kg; 210 lb)
Rugby union
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
≤1948–48 Neath RFC
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
≤1948–≤48 Glamorgan County RFC 6
Rugby league
PositionCentre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1948–52 Wakefield Trinity 66 42 2 0 130

Background

John Leighton Davies was born in Skewen (his birth was registered in Swansea), Wales.

After retirement, he became a patron of Wakefield RFC, and was an active supporter of the club until his death.[2]

He was also heavily responsible for Wakefield RFC’s 'Salute to Rugby'[3] book a compilation of "favourite recipes from famous people" including Prince Charles and the then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, which was published in 1980 in support of Wakefield Rugby Football Club.

An acknowledgment in the book reads

“J Leighton Davies, for his superhuman efforts in compiling all the recipes”.

He was the father in law of former Wakefield RFC captain Martin Shuttleworth, and grandfather of Otley's Iain Shuttleworth.[4]

He died aged 67–68 in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England.

Playing career

John Leighton Davies made his début for Wakefield Trinity during October 1948, he appears to have scored no drop-goals (or field-goals as they are currently known in Australasia), but prior to the 1974–75 season all goals, whether; conversions, penalties, or drop-goals, scored 2-points, consequently prior to this date drop-goals were often not explicitly documented, therefore '0' drop-goals may indicate drop-goals not recorded, rather than no drop-goals scored. In addition, prior to the 1949–50 season, the archaic field-goal was also still a valid means of scoring points.

Contemporaneous Article Extract

"Born in Skewen, South Wales, gained international schoolboy honours at Neath Technical. Played for Neath R.U., and had represented Glamorgan County on six occasions to reach the verge of international honours before turning to R.L. in October 1948. Looked set for an illustrious professional career when a succession of knee injuries forced his premature retirement in 1952."[5]

Genealogical information

John Leighton Davies' marriage to Dorothy E. (née Banham) was registered during second ¼ 1950 in Wakefield district.[6]

References
  1. "Birth details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  2. Wakefield Rugby Football Club—1901-2001 A Centenary History. Written and compiled by David Ingall in 2001
  3. Salute to Rugby – Wakefield Rugby Football Club published in 1980
  4. Wakefield Rugby Football Club—1901-2001 A Centenary History. Written and compiled by David Ingall in 2001
  5. Lindley, John (1960). Dreadnoughts - A HISTORY OF Wakefield Trinity F. C. 1873 - 1960. John Lindley Son & Co Ltd. ISBN n/a
  6. "Marriage details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
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