Jonathan Davies (rugby union, born 1988)

Jonathan Davies (born 5 April 1988) is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays at centre for the Scarlets and the Wales national team. He is commonly known as "Fox", differentiating him from the Jonathan Davies who played both rugby union and rugby league during the 1980s and 1990s.[3] His brother is James Davies, who also played professional rugby for Wales as a flanker.

Not to be confused with Jonathan Davies (rugby, born 1962).

Jonathan Davies
Davies in 2012
Birth nameJonathan Davies
Date of birth (1988-04-05) 5 April 1988
Place of birthSolihull, England
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Weight104 kg (16 st 5 lb; 229 lb)[2]
SchoolDyffryn Taf Comprehensive
UniversityTrinity College, Carmarthen
Notable relative(s)James Davies (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre
Current team Scarlets
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2006–2008 Llanelli 14 (10)
2006–2014 Scarlets 104 (180)
2014–2016 Clermont Auvergne 31 (20)
2016– Scarlets 75 (85)
Correct as of 3 April 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2008 Wales U20 5 (5)
2009– Wales 96 (80)
2013–2017 British & Irish Lions 6 (0)
Correct as of 18:35, 3 March 2023 (UTC)

Early life

Born to Welsh parents in Solihull, England, Davies moved at a young age with his family to Bancyfelin, Carmarthenshire, where his parents ran the Fox & Hounds Pub; Davies is nicknamed "Fox" after the pub. He attended Dyffryn Taf Comprehensive School in Whitland, Carmarthenshire, and is a fluent Welsh speaker.[4] Davies studied Sports and Exercise course at Trinity College, Carmarthen.

Club career

Davies started his career playing age-grade rugby for Llanelli RFC. He made his senior professional debut for the Llanelli Scarlets region before his first appearance for the senior Llanelli club side, playing against Northampton Saints on 11 August 2006. However, it took him until his sixth appearance (more than a year later) to score his first try, as he touched down against Connacht on 28 September 2007.

On 12 November 2013, Davies signed for French club Clermont Auvergne in the Top 14 on a two-year deal.[5]

On 13 November 2015, Davies returned to Scarlets from Clermont Auvergne on a national dual contract with the Welsh Rugby Union.[6]

International career

Wales

In 2009, Davies received his first call-up to the Welsh senior team for their mid-year tour of North America. He made his international debut in the first game of the tour, starting at outside centre against Canada on 30 May 2009.[7] He also played in the match against the United States, and scored two tries.[8]

For this performance and his form for the Scarlets, Davies was one of four Scarlets included in Wales's 29-man squad for the 2009 Autumn internationals.[9] After being named as an unused substitute for the New Zealand game on 7 November,[10] Davies was again named on the bench against Samoa on 13 November, taking the place of the injured Tom Shanklin after 49 minutes.[11] With Shanklin injured, Davies was picked to partner Jamie Roberts at inside centre against Argentina on 21 November. Although Wales won the match 33–16, it was an error from Davies that led to Argentina's only try; Davies attempted to kick the ball forward, but it cannoned off the legs of his opposite number, Martín Rodríguez, who gathered the ball and took it back in himself for the try. Nevertheless, Davies and Roberts formed a solid partnership in the middle of the field for the majority of the game, and Argentina were otherwise limited to penalty goals.[12] Despite his error, Davies retained the number 12 jersey for the final match of the series against Australia, although an injury to winger Leigh Halfpenny within the first 30 minutes meant that Davies spent the majority of the game playing out of position on the right wing; Wales lost the match 33–12.[13]

On 18 January 2010, Davies was named in the 35-man Wales squad for the 2010 Six Nations tournament.[14] However, he was not named in the 22-man squad for any of Wales's five matches in the competition. He returned to the Wales team on their summer tour of New Zealand, coming on as a substitute for Jamie Roberts for the last 10 minutes of the first Test on 19 June.[15] An injury to Andrew Bishop prior to the second Test the following weekend saw Davies and Roberts renew their centre partnership, though this time Davies occupied the outside position. Davies spearheaded one of Wales's best attacks of the game, but attempted to go solo for the goal line instead of offloading to one of three supporting runners with the line at their mercy.[16]

On 21 October 2010, Davies was again named in the Wales squad for the Autumn international series,[17] but he was preferred for each of the games by a combination of James Hook, Tom Shanklin and Andrew Bishop.

Following a 2011 6-Nations series in which Davies returned as a starting centre, he was named in Wales's preliminary World Cup squad. Davies completed both infamous training camps in Spala, Poland and was subsequently named as one of four centres. He started in all three of the side's pre-tournament tests against England, home and away, and Argentina at home.

During the 2011 World Cup Davies played a part in every Welsh game from the opening fixture against South Africa through to their third-place play-off defeat by Australia, forming a formidable centre partnership with Jamie Roberts.

Davies returned to the Scarlets squad in time for their opening Heineken Cup pool game against Castres. Enjoying a successful 2011 with both region and country, Davies rose to international status through the ranks of quality Welsh centres.

In 2012 Davies was a member of the Wales team which won the Championship, achieving their third Grand Slam in eight tournaments.[18][19][20][21]

Lions

Davies was selected to play for the 2013 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia.[22] He was controversially selected in the third test ahead of Brian O'Driscoll in what would have been O'Driscoll's last appearance for the British & Irish Lions. The Lions won the third test convincingly.

Davies was again selected to play on the 2017 Lions tour of New Zealand. He was voted player of the series by his Lions team-mates.[23]

International tries
TryOpponentLocationVenueCompetitionDateResult
1 United StatesChicago, United StatesToyota Park2009 summer tour6 June 2009Win
2
3 NamibiaNew Plymouth, New ZealandYarrow Stadium2011 Rugby World Cup26 September 2011Win
4 FijiHamilton, New ZealandWaikato Stadium2011 Rugby World Cup2 October 2011Win
5 IrelandWellington, New ZealandWestpac Stadium2011 Rugby World Cup8 October 2011Win
6 IrelandDublin, IrelandLansdowne Road2012 Six Nations5 February 2012Win
7
8 AustraliaMelbourne, AustraliaDocklands Stadium2012 summer tour16 June 2012Loss
9 ItalyRome, ItalyStadio Olimpico2013 Six Nations23 February 2013Win
10 ScotlandEdinburgh, ScotlandMurrayfield2015 Six Nations15 February 2015Win
11 ItalyCardiff, WalesMillennium Stadium2016 Six Nations19 March 2016Win
12 New ZealandWellington, New ZealandWestpac Stadium2016 summer tour18 June 2016Loss
13 ItalyRome, ItalyStadio Olimpico2017 Six Nations5 February 2017Win
14 ScotlandCardiff, WalesMillennium Stadium2018 Autumn internationals3 November 2018Win
15 ScotlandEdinburgh, ScotlandMurrayfield2019 Six Nations9 March 2019Win
16 GeorgiaToyota, JapanToyota Stadium2019 Rugby World Cup23 September 2019Win

Playing style

Davies has an all-round game including opportunistic try scoring, kicking and physical presence, but he is particularly valued for his defensive marshalling and protection of the 13 channel, including remaining linked with his defensive colleagues, and occasional spot-blitzing.[24][25][26][27][28]

Personal life

Davies' brother James also plays rugby. Davies is married.[29] Davies supports Manchester United and is a fan of Tom Brady.[30]

Awards

On 5 August 2019, Davies was inducted into the Gorsedd of Bards at the National Eisteddfod of Wales in Llanrwst.[31] He will use the name "Jon Cadno" (English: Jon Fox), in reference to his nickname.

References
  1. "Jonathan Davies".
  2. "Jonathan Davies".
  3. Jon Fox Davies
  4. RWC2015: Lloegr v Cymru (Television production). Wales: S4C. 26 September 2015.
  5. "Wales and Lions centre Jonathan Davies signs for Clermont Auvergne". BBC Sport. 12 November 2013. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  6. "Jonthan Davies returns to home region Scarlets". BBC Sport. 13 November 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  7. "Canada 23–32 Wales". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 30 May 2009. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
  8. "United States 15–48 Wales". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 6 June 2009. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
  9. "Wales choose home-based stalwarts". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 25 October 2009. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
  10. Pope, Bruce (7 November 2009). "Wales 12–19 New Zealand". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
  11. Davies, Sean (13 November 2009). "Wales 17–13 Samoa". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
  12. Pope, Bruce (21 November 2009). "Wales 33–16 Argentina". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
  13. "Wales 12–33 Australia". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 28 November 2009. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
  14. "Mike Phillips and Dwayne Peel left out of Wales squad". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 19 January 2010. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
  15. "New Zealand 42–9 Wales". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 19 June 2010. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
  16. "New Zealand 29–10". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 26 June 2010. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
  17. "Wales bring in Newport Gwent Dragons wing Aled Brew". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 21 October 2010. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
  18. "Six Nations 2012: final day as it happened". BBC Sport. 17 March 2012. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  19. "Wales win RBS 6 Nations Grand Slam". RTÉ Sport. 17 March 2012. Archived from the original on 22 May 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  20. "Grand Slam joy as Wales beat France". BBC Sport. 17 March 2012. Archived from the original on 19 March 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  21. "Wales 16-9 France". Guardian (London). 17 March 2012. Archived from the original on 11 November 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  22. Paul Rees (30 April 2013). "Jonny Wilkinson turned down Lions chance, says Warren Gatland". London: Guardian. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  23. "British and Irish Lions 2017: Jonathan Davies voted player of the series". BBC Sport. 9 July 2017. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  24. James, Ben (30 November 2018). "This is how the Wales rugby team's peerless defence actually works". WalesOnline. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  25. Parfitt, Delme (4 February 2016). "The art of the outside centre explained: Why Jonathan Davies is so important". WalesOnline. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  26. Cary, Tom (25 October 2019). "The importance of Jonathan Davies: Why 'Fox' is the back-line inspiration Warren Gatland cannot do without". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  27. James, Ben (26 November 2017). "The damning analysis of Wales centre performance v All Blacks". WalesOnline. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  28. "Neil Francis: Rejoice! Beating the odds in NZ a cause for celebration - Independent.ie". Archived from the original on 18 November 2017.
  29. Peters, Sam. "Jonathan Davies: 'I did get some funny looks while driving my mobility scooter around Cardiff market at Christmas'". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  30. Coleman, Tom (31 October 2018). "Jonathan Davies uncovered - jokers, dinner party guests and more". WalesOnline. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  31. "National Eisteddfod: Stars to be honoured by Gorsedd". BBC News. 9 May 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
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