Tributes flood in for ‘Merv the Swerve’ Davies

Current Wales assistant coach and former national team skipper Rob Howley described Davies – who was known worldwide as “Merv the Swerve” because of his deceptive running style – as a “colossus” and “icon”.

Ex-playing colleague Phil Bennett believes No 8 forward Davies would have led the 1977 British and Irish Lions in New Zealand had his career not been cut short by a brain haemorrhage suffered during a Welsh Cup semi-final the year before.

Another former team-mate – with London Welsh, Wales and the Lions – John Taylor, said: “This is one of the saddest days of my life. I have lost a brother.”

Davies played for London Welsh and Swansea, winning 38 caps and touring with the Lions to New Zealand in 1971 and South Africa three years later, featuring in eight Tests.

He only finished on the losing side nine times with Wales, and news of his death is particularly poignant, with it being announced barely 24 hours before Wales go for RBS Six Nations title and Grand Slam glory against France at the Millennium Stadium.

Flags at the stadium flew at half-mast yesterday, while both teams today will wear black armbands, in addition to a minute’s silence being observed.

Howley began his eve-of-game press conference by paying a glowing tribute to Davies. “It’s a sad day for Welsh rugby,” he said. “The players, the management, we all send our sincere condolences to the family. Unfortunately, I never played with him, but from what I’m told he was a colossus.

“To only lose nine games as a player for Wales, the amount of caps, to play eight Tests for the Lions, he’s an icon of world rugby. We can speak frequently of world-class players, but icon and legend belongs to Merv the Swerve. The players were told this morning, and it gives us even more motivation for Saturday on what is hopefully going to be a great game for Welsh rugby.

“It’s emotional, I met him on several occasions when I was Wales captain and he gave me plenty of words of wisdom. He was a very humble man who knew the game inside-out.”

Bennett, a long-time team-mate of Davies with Wales and the Lions, said news of his death was “absolutely devastating”.

He recalled how Davies was inspired to improve as a player during the 1974 Lions tour to South Africa by the presence of England’s Andy Ripley, a rival for the No 8 jersey.

Bennett said on BBC Radio Five Live: “‘Rippers’ was playing the rugby of his life, and Mervyn said, ‘I’m going to step my game up’. And he started to play rugby football like I’ve never seen him play before. He was totally outstanding.

“I was captain of the 1977 Lions that went out to New Zealand. Mervyn Davies suffered a brain haemorrhage in 1976 playing [for Swansea] against Pontypool in Cardiff in the semi-finals of the Welsh Cup.

“Without doubt he’d have been skipper of that ’77 tour and thoroughly would have deserved it.”

Davies made his Wales debut against Scotland at Murrayfield in 1969, and led Wales to a Five Nations Grand Slam seven years later.

He played for London Welsh from 1968, as did several top Wales players during the 1970s golden era, and later joined Swansea, where he completed his playing career.

London Welsh managing director Taylor said: “His record speaks for itself and the legend will rightly live on. But to those of us who counted him as a close friend he was much, much more than a great rugby player.”

Ospreys managing director Roger Blyth, a team-mate of Davies with Swansea and Wales, added: “Mervyn was an inspirational leader who never took a backward step on or off the pitch.

“I consider myself fortunate to have known him as a team-mate and a friend. His career was cut short in unfortunate circumstances, but nothing will ever take away from what is a tremendous legacy as a captain of his country, double Grand Slam winner and a successful Lion who won in New Zealand and South Africa.”