Gerald Davies, a key player in the star studded Wales Rugby Team and a legend of the British and Irish Lions from the 1970s, has been conferred with an honorary LLD Degree by the Swansea University. As chairman of the British and Irish Lions rugby team, the wing wizard from Wales has also presided over the team’s successful tour of Australia over the summer as well.
The honorary degree was conferred during the awarding of the degrees by the Swansea University at the city hall a few days back. Born in 1945, Davies was a brilliant athlete during his days in school and was an extremely talented sprinter, an ability which helped him dazzle past many an opposing player on the wings. He made his international debut for the Wales Rugby Team at just 21 years of age against Australia almost 50 years back now in 1966.
During his long career, Davies represented the likes of the Barbarians, the London Welsh, Cambridge University as well as Cardiff and captained the capital club for three seasons during the 1970s. Perhaps his most memorable match in the Cardiff jersey came in the Anglo-Welsh Cup game of 1977-78 when he singlehandedly ripped apart the opposing Pontypool to score four tries and earn a 16-11 win for his side.
He also played for twelve consecutive years for the Wales Rugby Team, amassing a total of 46 caps and finishing his career with 20 tries. He went on two tours with the British and Irish Lions, going on to earn five caps and scoring three tries for the Lions, all of which were against the All Blacks of New Zealand, helping the team to win the series.
Davies stated that as a former teacher, it was particularly pleasurable to receive a degree from a place of learning.