James Davies (rugby union)

Last updated

James Davies
Born (1990-10-25) 25 October 1990 (age 35)
Height1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight93 kg (15 st; 205 lb)
Notable relative Jonathan Davies (brother)
Rugby union career
Position Openside Flanker
Current team Scarlets
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2011–2015 Carmarthen Quins 59 (65)
2013–2022 Scarlets 103 (90)
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2018–2020 Wales 11 (5)
National sevens teams
YearsTeamComps
2013–14 Wales 7s 17
2016 Great Britain 7s 4
Correct as of 20:58, 11 January 2016 (UTC)
Medal record
Men's rugby sevens
Representing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain
Olympic Games
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2016 Rio de Janeiro Team competition

James Davies (born 25 October 1990) is a Welsh former rugby union player who last played for the Scarlets as a flanker. He has also represented Wales Sevens and was part of the Great Britain squad that played in the Rugby Sevens tournament at the 2016 Summer Olympics. [1]

Contents

Club career

Scarlets

Davies made his debut for the Scarlets in 2014 making 23 appearances in his debut season, 16 in the Pro12, scoring four tries and winning four man of the match awards. [2] During the 2016–17 Pro12, Davies was named as man of the match in the semi final win over Leinster. [3] He scored the Scarlets final try in the 2017 Pro12 Grand Final, as the Scarlets beat Munster 46-22. [4]

In April 2022, it was announced that Davies would retire from rugby with immediate effect due to concussion. His final rugby match was Wales vs Georgia in October 2020. [5]

International career

Wales

In January 2018, Davies was called up to the senior Wales squad for the 2018 Six Nations Championship. He made his international debut on 11 March 2018 against Italy. [6] Davies was selected for the 2018 Wales rugby union tour to Argentina and the United States, and won back-to-back man of the match awards. [7]

Great Britain Sevens

Davies represented Great Britain in the 2016 Summer Olympics, and won a silver medal. [8]

Personal life

His brother is Jonathan Davies, who also plays professional rugby union as a centre for Scarlets and Wales. His nickname is "Cubby", in reference to his brother's nickname, "Fox"; this refers to the Fox & Hounds pub their parents ran in Bancyfelin, the village where they grew up. [9]

After retirement, he joined the Scarlets backroom staff as a recruitment manager. [10] Davies was credited for spotting Ellis Mee for the Scarlets, and deemed ‘influential’ in the signing of Blair Murray. [11]

International tries

TryOpponentLocationVenueCompetitionDateResult
1Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina San Juan, Argentina Estadio San Juan 2018 Summer Tour 9 June 2018Win

References

  1. "Olympic Sevens shows why James Davies MUST get a chance to influence Wales' evolving faster, looser game-plan". WalesOnline. 10 August 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  2. "1st Team Players : Scarlets Rugby". www.scarlets.co.uk. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015.
  3. Lloyd, Rob (20 May 2017). ""A farce he's not in the Wales squad"". Wales Online. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  4. "Pro12 final: Munster 22-46 Scarlets". BBC Sport. 26 May 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  5. "James Davies announces retirement from rugby". April 2022.
  6. "Six Nations 2018: Wales name James Davies and Josh Adams in squad". BBC. 16 January 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  7. Howell, Andy (14 April 2019). "The nightmare season of James 'Cubby Boi' Davies". Wales Online. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  8. "James Davies: Ex-Scarlets and Wales flanker reflects on 'horrible' decision to retire". BBC Sport. 20 April 2022. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  9. Corrigan, James (9 March 2018). "Fan favourite James 'Cubby Boi' Davies primed for long-awaited Wales debut". The Telegraph. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  10. "James Davies: Scarlets announce recruitment role for former Wales flanker". BBC Sport. 23 August 2022. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  11. Thomas, Steffan (14 January 2025). "Wales' exciting new call-up was discovered by club legend in unlikely place". Wales Online. Retrieved 28 December 2025.