A living link with the golden age of rugby

SHOULD Wales beat England on February 23 for a 12th consecutive victory, then they will eclipse the achievement of the Golden Wales sides of the first decade of the 1900s.

Perhaps the only person in Wales who is a living link with Edwardianera Welsh rugby is the rugby journalist Huw S Thomas.

On a visit to his home town club of Llandeilo RFC to see a veterans’ match against Llandovery RFC last Saturday, Huw told me how he had delivered newspapers to an elderly George Davies (Llandeilo, Swansea and Wales) during the 1950s. George, a veteran of the 1900, 1901 and 1905 Wales sides, would proudly show Huw his international caps.

Some rugby historians claim that George Davies was the player who invented the dummy pass during a match for Llandeilo in 1895 where he scored six tries against Tenby United.

Huw S Thomas’ writing has contributed a great deal to the rich tapestry of Welsh rugby, from his quiz books to numerous articles over many decades. Maybe George Davies with his tales of glory helped nurture a fine rugby journalist who, like us all, will revel in the chance for Wales to become the new history boys against England a week Saturday. Steffan Gwent Llandeilo