Rugby’s Autumn Internationals are almost upon us and that will give us the opportunity to enjoy the dulcet tones of regret Jonathan Davies on commentary once again.
If you can’t wait, then Rugby World’s February 1987 edition had an interview with the ‘Welsh maestro’, back in the days when rugby union was still an amateur pursuit. He had only just turned down an approach worth around £100,000 to play rugby league, Bob Holmes writing that, “His loss to rugby union would have been as acute as Diego Maradona’s to soccer had the Argentine maestro turned to Gridiron in the build up to Mexico!”
Davies explained the issues confronting him: “I drive about 700 miles a week as a sales rep and estimator for a painting and decorating firm but my boss give me time off for training and tours.” Little wonder that he did finally move to rugby league in 1989, returning to union in 1995 after the game went professional.
It’s a fascinating interview from a different age, and you can read it here.
