Retired rugby legend and the face of Welsh rugby during the Six Nations, Jonathan Davies speaks with Luke Owain Boult about the Six Nations, commentating, and the changes in rugby.
Jonathan Davies. Few other names can inspire as much pride in Welsh rugby as the cheeky chappy smiling retired fly-half. Nor can many others make us laugh as much as when we see his grin whenever Wales win…especially in contrast to Guscott’s perpetually bemused expression whenever the English don’t. In his rugby career, having played both league and union, he became well known for his side step flair that has almost come to define Welsh rugby.
“Last year, the last day of the Six Nations was very enjoyable,” he says, reflecting on 2015’s highlights, “there were a couple of great successes in the World Cup and it just shows who the best teams in the world were. The best team won, but the gap between the hemispheres is getting smaller. Japan beating South Africa was good, and obviously the Wales result against England was brilliant.” So after a fairly mixed result for Wales in the World Cup, I wanted to know what he thought of Wales’ chances in the Six Nations: “I think it’s going to be very, very competitive this year, and with Scotland improving anyone really could win it. If Wales win against Ireland we have a good chance but I think it’s very open. England have got a home advantage against Ireland and Wales, so England, for me, might star as favourites.”
What comes across with Jonathan, and it’s something I imagine is hard to do, is remain unbiased. “It’s very difficult to do. If you speak to other folk they think that I am biased. You can’t win really,” laughs Jonathan, “you’re either biased or you’re not. You’ve just got to call it as you see it. Obviously everyone knows I’m Welsh and when you’ve got Jerry Guscott or Martyn Williams or Andy Nicol, they’re obviously going to be very supportive of their national side. You do get caught up with it but you try and keep a level head. Say what you see really, but you need to try to make things entertaining for the public.”
Before commentary, Davies was one of the world’s top rugby players. I asked about his highlights as a rugby player, and without hesitation he answered: “Playing for Wales the first time. You don’t set out in life to score tries or to win. The goal is to win your first Welsh cap. For me, that was one of the biggest achievements.” He then told me how much the game had changed since he began: “I can’t remember my first game, but I just enjoyed it as a hobby and then all of a sudden my ambitions grew. It’s professional now so, there’s a lot more emphasis on every aspect of the game, on and off the field. Of course, now there’s also the money. The game has changed in the way it’s played but principle is still the same.”
Ranked at the time of writing as the fourth in the rugby world rankings, on paper Welsh rugby looks to be flourishing, but with many Welsh players leaving Wales for clubs abroad I wanted to find out what Jonathan thought the biggest challenge facing Welsh rugby was: “It’s competing with the revenue French clubs have and trying to keep players in Wales. I think for me there’s a couple of other issues. One is good coaching at a young level. The other is trying to get people through the gate, that’s the main thing. We’ve got to get crowds up, and it’s imperative that we generate interest and atmosphere in Wales in the rugby ground.”
Jonathan Davies’ passion for the sport and his country is clear, but overall what strikes me about him is his fairness and honesty: the makings of a good commentator, and a gentleman.
Six Nations, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff. Wales v Scotland, Sat 13 Feb, Wales v France, Fri 26 Feb. Tickets: £30-£75. Info: www.millenniumstadium.com
The Six Nations will also be shown on BBC Two, with analysis by Scrum V, and S4C.