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Gerald Davies
Rugby Manager
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Biography
Headmaster, scout, disciplinarian, navigator and occasional baby sitter, the role of rugby manager is wide and varied, as the current incumbent, Gerald Davies, will only be too happy to inform you.
With the retirement of Morlais and Jan Evans at the end of the 2007/08 season, it was primarily Gerald that picked up the slack, taking on the duties performed so admirably by the dynamic duo.
But having fulfilled a variety of guises at the club, from player to 1st XV fines administrator, this season has seen Gerald add a few more strings to his already plentiful bow – not to mention continuing to keep a beady eye on the players.
Born in Harrow, of Welsh parents (Ebbw Vale), it was in boxing and running that the young Davies would first excelled, before his athletics coach got him involved with rugby at Wasps. It would be only a matter of time, however, before Gerald found his way to Old Deer Park in 1970.
A winger by trade, he played along side the likes of Keith Hughes and Dai Llewellyn.
It was in 1982 that Gerald hung up his playing boots and, with Glan Richards’ encouragement, first tried his hand at coaching, completing the WRU coaches and starting with the London Welsh U16's. But it was developing underage rugby that he discovered he had a natural flare for, and an offer from Ealing RFC fired his interest.
Gerald would help to establish the clubs mini section, taking advantage of the RFUs Sport Foundation initiative called Championship.
He was then approached by the RFU, and for a year became involved in their Network Rail initiative, aimed at keeping children off railway lines. Brentford FC were next to enlist Gerald’s services as part of the clubs new Positive Futures Programme - a Government scheme aimed at using sport to keep kids off the streets, which is still running today.
But after a break of seven years it was Clive Griffiths that tempted Gerald back to London Welsh in mid 1990's to help run the clubs U21 side. Once back at Old Deer Park, gradually he would become more and more embroiled on the managerial side, taking on the reins of 1st XV rugby manager and then subsequently absorbing much of the role previous fulfilled by Morlais and Jan, as well as various other ad hoc duties that fell into his lap.
Aside from playing a key role in developing London Welsh's relationships with St Mary’s College and Westminster University, Gerald has also played a major role in nurturing the clubs links with Wasps. Links which have seen the Dragons benefit from loan players such as Charlie Beech, Matt Corker and Hugo Ellis.
With the retirement of Morlais and Jan Evans at the end of the 2007/08 season, it was primarily Gerald that picked up the slack, taking on the duties performed so admirably by the dynamic duo.
But having fulfilled a variety of guises at the club, from player to 1st XV fines administrator, this season has seen Gerald add a few more strings to his already plentiful bow – not to mention continuing to keep a beady eye on the players.
Born in Harrow, of Welsh parents (Ebbw Vale), it was in boxing and running that the young Davies would first excelled, before his athletics coach got him involved with rugby at Wasps. It would be only a matter of time, however, before Gerald found his way to Old Deer Park in 1970.
A winger by trade, he played along side the likes of Keith Hughes and Dai Llewellyn.
It was in 1982 that Gerald hung up his playing boots and, with Glan Richards’ encouragement, first tried his hand at coaching, completing the WRU coaches and starting with the London Welsh U16's. But it was developing underage rugby that he discovered he had a natural flare for, and an offer from Ealing RFC fired his interest.
Gerald would help to establish the clubs mini section, taking advantage of the RFUs Sport Foundation initiative called Championship.
He was then approached by the RFU, and for a year became involved in their Network Rail initiative, aimed at keeping children off railway lines. Brentford FC were next to enlist Gerald’s services as part of the clubs new Positive Futures Programme - a Government scheme aimed at using sport to keep kids off the streets, which is still running today.
But after a break of seven years it was Clive Griffiths that tempted Gerald back to London Welsh in mid 1990's to help run the clubs U21 side. Once back at Old Deer Park, gradually he would become more and more embroiled on the managerial side, taking on the reins of 1st XV rugby manager and then subsequently absorbing much of the role previous fulfilled by Morlais and Jan, as well as various other ad hoc duties that fell into his lap.
Aside from playing a key role in developing London Welsh's relationships with St Mary’s College and Westminster University, Gerald has also played a major role in nurturing the clubs links with Wasps. Links which have seen the Dragons benefit from loan players such as Charlie Beech, Matt Corker and Hugo Ellis.
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