News

The annoncement on Thursday by Jason Leonard, of the British and Irish Lions squad to tour South Africa this coming summer was greeted with jubilation by everyone connected with Newcastle Emlyn RFC. Gareth Davies the Wales and Scarlets scrum half was named as one of the three scrum halves in the squad.

As most people are probably aware Gareth is a product of the Emlyn system and has come through the mini and junior ranks before transitioning to the Scarlets Academy and then the full Scarlets team. He has since gone on to gain 62 caps for Wales and has been an integral part of the Welsh set up for a number of years, winning Grand Slams and Six Nations Championships under the then Welsh and now, present Lions coach Warren Gatland.

A powerful scrum half he has shown the ability to change big games by scoring tries when it matters and his speed off the mark will undoubtedly pose problems for the Springboks back row. He will undoubtedly be challenging the other two scrum halves, Connor Murray and Ali Price, for a place in the Test starting line up. With his experience and the fact that Gatland has coached him at international level for all of his caps does this give him the edge over the other two?

He was naturally suprised and delighted at his inclusion in the squad and views it as a great honour to himself, his family, and the club at which he started playing the game. His parents Kevin and Anne by their own admission had not really dared to dream that Gareth would be amongst the chosen few, but now that it is a reality they are extremely proud of this unique achievement.

Lions tours only come around every four years and to be selected as one of the best three players in your position in Britain and Ireland is a tremendous achievement and a fitting reward to all the hard work Gareth has put in over his career. 

We had Newcastle Emlyn RFC and the entire community in this area of the Teifi valley, wish him every success and hope that he not only has a very successful tour but enjiys this unique experience.