Ianto Davies

Ianto Davies

Birth name	Evan Davies
Date of birth	c. 1892
Place of birth	Maesteg, Wales
Date of death	c. 1946
School	Plasnewydd School
Occupation(s)	collier
Rugby union career
Position(s) full back Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1919  Wales 1 (0)

Evan "Ianto" Davies (c. 1892 - c. 1946)^[1] was a Welsh international rugby union full back who played club rugby for Llanelli and Maesteg. He won a single cap for Wales and also played county rugby for Glamorgan

Rugby career

Born in Maesteg, Wales, Davies first played rugby as a school boy for Plasnewydd School. He progressed to local team Maesteg Rovers, before joining Maesteg RFC. Davies' rugby career was put on hold with the outbreak of World War I, where he served in the Royal Field Artillery and Welch Regiment.^[2] On his return to Britain after the end of hostilities, he rejoined Maesteg.

The first game played by the Wales national team after the war was against the touring New Zealand Army. With so many of the pre-war team either too old or now no longer fit to play, the Wales team was made up of newly capped players, many of whom were ex-services. Davies was given his first and only cap in this game, played at the Cardiff Arms Park on 21 April 1919. Although Wales lost 3-6, Davies' cap gave him the honour of being the first player to come from the Maesteg club to represent his country.

For the 1920/21 season, Davies was made captain of Maesteg.^[2] He later played for both Llanelli and London Welsh and also for Glamorgan County.^[3]

Bibliography

• Jenkins, John M.; et al. (1991). Who's Who of Welsh International Rugby Players. Wrexham: Bridge Books. ISBN 1-872424-10-4.
• Smith, David; Williams, Gareth (1980). Fields of Praise: The Official History of The Welsh Rugby Union. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. ISBN 0-7083-0766-3.

References