RUGBY STAR’S DAUGHTERS ARE NOW IN SPOTLIGHT DOWN UNDER
AFORMER Wales international once suggested Darren Davies should be playing Test rugby, saying he could become the next Chris Wyatt. For the avoidance of doubt, the remark was meant as a compliment. Wyatt may not have been tucked up in bed before News at Ten every night and he didn’t acquire the nickname One Man Riot for sticking to protein shakes at all the social functions he attended, but he was also some rugby player, one who performed outstandingly for a couple of seasons at Test level under Graham Henry.
What of Davies?
The ex-Wales U21 international back-five man played for Swansea, Newport, Cardiff, Cross Keys and for Caerphilly during their remarkable run to the European Shield final in 2003. He featured alongside Jonathan “Jiffy” Davies during his time at the Arms Park and caught the start of Alun Wyn Jones’ career at Swansea. Oh, and there was also a brief stint in a Pontypool set-up that featured David Bishop.
Along the way there was a broken neck that hit the 6ft 5in Davies off course.
But these days he is very much back on track, heading up a solar energy company in the greater Brisbane area and living on Australia’s Gold Coast.
It isn’t him who’s been making the news of late, though.
His four daughters – Giselle, Fleur, Darcie and Georja – have been making headlines for their sporting prowess. No small headlines, either. One Gold Coast newspaper referred to 17-year-old Darcie as a “superstar” in women’s AFL or Aussie Rules.
She became the third in her family to play in the AFL, while 16-year-old Georja is coming through and could prove to be the best kept secret of them all, according to reports.
Darcie became the youngest player to be drafted into AFL.
Her siblings are all considered major talents as well.
Understandably, Darren is a proud man.
“It’s just fantastic,” he said.
“AFL is huge in this country. It’s hard for people back home to understand the scale of it.
“So for the girls to be doing so well is brilliant for them.
“My wife Simone, who plays in the masters league herself, and I are so proud.
“When one of the girls signed last week the headline was something like ‘Superstar etches her name in family history’ – the first family with three siblings to sign in the AFL. The fourth one’s draft is in two years’ time and she’s seen as a hot commodity also.
“The younger two have been picked for the Australia netball team.
“They’ve transferred from netball to Aussie Rules, because Aussie Rules is an absolute beast in this country. The AFL changed the rules so she could get one on board a year early. You’re not allowed to get drafted until your 18th year.
“They drafted her because she was captain of Queensland U17s netball and had been picked for Australia U17s netball. For fear of losing her to another sport, they changed things around and landed her a year early. It caused uproar with the other 17 clubs.
“All eyes are on the youngest now, to see where she’s going to go.”
Davies follows Welsh rugby from afar, keeping an interest in the sport where he once had dreams of representing his country.
“I do try to keep track on what’s going on,” he said.
“I watched the Lions in 2013 and saw Wales over here when they had that three-game series a year earlier.
“When I came here in 2006, I converted to rugby league, but now I have to learn this new beast of AFL with my girls playing it.
“I know how all my friends’ sons are doing. Hywel Jenkins’ boy (Dafydd Jenkins) is going from strength to strength at Exeter, Dai Young’s son Thomas is on fire with Cardiff, Derwyn Jones’ boy Lewis is pushing through at the Ospreys. Owen Williams’ lad Teddy is on the up, too.
“After watching the Lions in Sydney in 2013 I was in a nightclub that evening. Someone jumped on me and put me in a headlock. It was Jiffy (Jonathan Davies). He said: ‘Where the f*** have you been?’
“He was my boyhood hero. When he went to rugby league, I cried. But
I got to play with him. That meant a lot.
“Also, I figured alongside Alun Wyn Jones for eight games at Swansea.
“So I’m still able to say to my girls there are people still playing who I played alongside.
“Bish was a special player. “Pontypool had Fe’ao Vunipola, Phil Ford, Matt Silva, Vunipola, Will James and Alex Brown in their squad but they all looked to Bish for leadership.”
The neck injury came early in Davies’ Pontypool career.
“It happened eight games into my time with them,” said Davies.
“I was throwing myself at people and it was before our bodies were big on the weights. It was a tackle on Matthew Veater of Newport. My life changed from that point. I was then chasing the career that had previously been given to me on a plate.
“I’ve remained friends with Bish and was on the phone to him last weekend. He’s trying to get me World Cup tickets.
“You keep your friends in rugby. That’s what makes it such a great sport.” Davies has a job that keeps him busy. “I have 50 people working for me out here,” he said.
“So you have responsibilities.
“It was amazing how our world changed after we emigrated. I didn’t know anyone outside of rugby out here, but slowly it comes together.”
Three of his daughters were born in Wales.
Davies and his wife are from Barry. But their roots are now firmly planted in Australia.
“I’m a walking tourist ad for the place. I just love it out here,” he added.