Mervyn (or ‘Merve the Swerve’)
was educated at Penlan County School and Swansea College of
Education.
He began his rugby at Old Guildfordians before transferring
to London Welsh when he was teaching in the South East. His
first test cap came in 1969 against Scotland and he went
on to win 38 caps as a number eight for his country, captaining
them on nine occasions from 1975 to 1976.
In 1971 he was
selected
to tour with the Lions to Australia and New Zealand, playing
in all 4 tests and was instrumental throughout - especially
in the line out. Having had a torrid time during the Welsh
tour to New Zealand two years prior Davies made amends
by producing some scintillating rugby with the Lions both in
attack
and
defense, despite his slight physique.
He toured again in
1974 and gained a further four caps against the Springboks.
A Barbarian,
he moved clubs to Swansea in 1974 and in the 1976 Welsh
Cup semi final suffered a tragic brain haemorrhage that finished
his career, and almost took his life.
