Rugby journey
The remarkable tale of Wales’ Jonathan ‘Jiffy’ Davies
THE tragedy of Jonathan ‘Jiffy’ Davies and the remarkable result of what he chose to do next is a remarkable rugby story.
In 1997, the most devastating family loss struck the Welsh rugby hero for a second time. This is how he used it as a power for good
He was an international rugby star in both codes of the game, he’s been a high-profile broadcaster for some 20 years and he has own television show. But ask Jonathan Davies what he is proudest of in his life and he looks away from the world of sport and TV.
He lists his family first and then reflects on his time as patron and now president of the Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff. During the 10 years or so he has been involved, he has helped raise an astonishing £26m ($F70m) for the facility.
It’s a cause that is very close to his heart, with both his father, Len, and his first wife, Karen, having died from cancer. It was the contrasting nature of their treatment which persuaded Davies to take up his role with Velindre.
“I was 12 when I found out my dad had it,” he recalls.
“Everyone tries to hide it from their kids, don’t they, but then I noticed he was yellow, like a jaundice, and they found out he had liver cancer.
“No-one really knew what cancer was back then and there were nothing like the treatment programme you have today. There were only three places in the world that operated on it in those days - Addenbrooke’s in Cambridge, San Francisco and Cape Town.
“That’s when I really found how difficult it was.
“Dad was treated at Addenbrooke’s, so my mum, Diana, had to travel up to be with him, while me and my sister, Caroline, lived with my grandmother.
“My dad used to be captain of Trimsaran RFC and the club collected money for my mum to stay up in Cambridge.
“Going up there, walking away and wondering if you would see your dad alive again, it was horrible.
“He was successful with the liver transplant and I remember him being healthy down on Cefn Sidan beach after that. But then it spread to his stomach and he died when I was 14.
“I remember how hard it was on everyone, especially my mum. It was a huge loss to us all.”
Life without Karen
Then, some 20 years later, tragedy struck again, as Davies’ wife, Karen, was diagnosed with stomach cancer.
“I knew she was going to die within 18 months, unless there was a miracle,” he reveals.
“It was very difficult. But when she was having chemotherapy, she stayed at Velindre and I could see how much easier it was compared to my dad’s situation.
“I could take the kids to school, go back and see her in the morning, go training with Cardiff in the afternoon and get everything sorted while she was having care.
“What you’ve got to try and do with your kids is maintain as normal a lifesyle as you can. Keep it normal and keep it away from them.”
Karen died aged 34, in June 1997, leaving Davies to bring up their children Scott, Grace and Geena, who were seven, three and one-year -old at the time.
Looking back, one wonders how on earth he coped.
“You have to, don’t you? I just had to get on with it. Some days I didn’t feel like getting out of bed, but it wasn’t about me, it was about being there for my children.
“Because I had gone through it with my dad, I was mentally tough.
“So I compartmentalised everything, prioritised everything. When things like that happen, there is perspective and priority. You know what’s important. All the trivial rubbish in life you just ignore it.
“Luckily, my mum was a huge help to me. I moved her and my step dad Ken up from Trimsaran to live in Cardiff.
“I had a great support system around me from my family while I worked weekends and played.”
Having seen at first hand the work done by Velindre, Davies had no hesitation in getting involved when they approached him around a decade ago.
“They needed a bit of help in raising their profile at the time. They must have known my story, so they asked me to become patron.
“When they approached me, I thought it was so vital. I just raise the profile of it and keep the awareness up in the public eye.
“Charity is like life in general. It’s very competitive. It’s £26m we have raised in all since I have been involved.
“I think, along with my family, it’s the thing I am proudest about in my life. I have been unlucky enough to have people close to me who have had cancer, but lucky enough to be able to give something back.
“Hopefully with the money we have raised, we have helped a lot of people. The people going through it are mentally tougher than anyone, you have to be.
“But you see how it affects the families. You can see the life draining out of them, because they see their loved ones in so much agony. It’s hard for them.”
The focus for Davies now is growing awareness of Velindre throughout Wales and raising money for a new hospital building planned on a nearby site and the events come thick and fast.
“I hate the word celebrity, but you use your celebrity status to promote the cause,” he said.
Friends, TV and social media strife
Davies’ celebrity status can have its downside however, notably when it comes to social media, where he has had the odd spat in the past.
“You know what I am like on Twitter!” he says.
“I got into trouble the one time. “I had a few numpties saying what does he know about rugby league, because I live in Wales now.
“Well, I was Players Player of the Year twice, captain of Great Britain, I played out in Australia, I beat New Zealand and Australia and I was the Man of Steel. So no matter where I live, I think I know a little bit about it!
“Anyway, this one woman was going on and on and she copied the BBC in saying I should be sacked because I didn’t know what I was talking about.
“I thought who is this person to involve my employers? How dare she try to get me the sack when I’ve got to support my kids.
“I felt it was going over the top, so I piled into her. I should have ignored it, but I said something I shouldn’t have.
“I had everybody after me then!” Davies had a spell off Twitter and admits he has to tread carefully at times when it comes to what he posts.
“You have got to be really careful. I stay away from politics, religion and all that.”
It’s rugby that has been at the core of his life and he feels blessed at what it has brought him.
As well as the caps, the fame and the livelihood, it has also given him great friendships in both codes, with the likes of Stuart Davies, Andy Booth, Mike Rayer, Phil Davies, John Devereux, Martyn Williams, Kevin Ellis, Phil Clarke, Joe Lydon and Martin Offiah being particular pals.
Since hanging up his boots, Davies has worked for the BBC as commentator, pundit and presenter, but now finds himself at a bit of a crossroads with the corporation having lost the broadcast rights for the Guinness PRO14 to Premier Sports.
“I have been 20 years with the BBC and I have really enjoyed it,” he said.
“But I have still got kids, I am still young and I have still got things I want to do. Why should you stop at a certain age?
“I have worked since I was 16. I left school, I was a painter and decorator, then I worked on the opencast.
“I was 6 until 6 every week day and then, on a Saturday, I would be 6 to 12 and drive to play against Cardiff in front of 20,000 people.
“I enjoy working. If you are working, your mind is sharp.
“I have been very lucky. I say it’s a job, but it’s not really a job because rugby has been a hobby of mine.”