David Watkins (Welsh rugby player)
Encyclopedia
David Watkins MBE
(born 5 March 1942 in Blaina
, Wales
) is a Welsh former dual-code rugby international, having played both rugby union
and rugby league
football for both codes' national teams between 1967 and 1983. He is the only player to have captained both the British and Irish Lions
rugby union side and the Great Britain
rugby league teams.
and Pontypool RFC
while still a youth. He became a Wales Youth International. He made his debut for Newport against Penarth RFC
on the 2nd Sept 1961.
He was vice captain of Newport under Brian Price
in 1963/4 and went on to captain them for three seasons 1964/5, 1965/6 and 1966/7. He set the club dropped goal record of 14 in 1966/7, in all he scored 228 points including 55 dropped goals for Newport. He never played on the losing side for Newport at sevens. In 1967 Watkins assembled his own team to enter the first ever Glengarth Sevens
at Davenport Rugby Club
where he won the main competition.
In his first season with Newport RFC the team won the Welsh Championship.
against England
partnering Clive Rowlands
. He was a key figure in Newport's epic win over Whineray's 1963 New Zealand All Blacks setting up position for Uzzell's drop goal and kicked a penalty to draw with Australia
in 1966. He played 21 times for Wales (including the 1964/5 Triple Crown
and was captain three times in 1967.
Watkins played for invitational team the Barbarians
during his first season for Newport in 1962.
Watkins led the Lions in two tests in Australia in 1966.
for £15,000, a then club record. He was Salford's captain in 1967 and also in the Challenge Cup
Final in 1969 when they were beaten by Castleford
. He became their record points scorer and steered them to victory in the Lancashire Cup Final in 1972 by beating Swinton
at Wilderspool, Warrington. He led Salford to the Championship in 1974.
He retired after being injured on the 1974 Australasian tour but came back to mastermind a win in the BBC2 Floodlit Cup Final against Warrington in 1975. In 1976 Salford won the Championship again but lost the play-off final to St. Helens.
His rugby league career ended in 1979 after playing for Swinton for a season. In the 1972–73 season he kicked a world record 221 goals in a season. He also holds the longest scoring run record in 92 consecutive matches for Salford from 19 August 1972 to 25 April 1974. He totalled 929 points from 41 tries and 403 goals. The record refers to scoring consecutively for one club and does not include representative matches.
. In 2009, Watkins took over the position of Crusaders president from Jonathan Davies.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 5 March 1942 in Blaina
Blaina
Blaina is a small town, situated deep within the South Wales Valleys between Brynmawr and Abertillery in the unitary authority of Blaenau Gwent, ancient parish of Aberystruth, preserved county of Gwent and historic county of Monmouthshire.-Notable people:...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
) is a Welsh former dual-code rugby international, having played both rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
and rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
football for both codes' national teams between 1967 and 1983. He is the only player to have captained both the British and Irish Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
rugby union side and the Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
rugby league teams.
Rugby union club career
Watkins joined Newport RFC in 1961/2 from Cwmcelyn Youth but played odd games for Ebbw Vale RFCEbbw Vale RFC
Ebbw Vale Rugby Football Club is a Welsh Rugby Union Club based in the town of Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent, South Wales. The club currently play in the WRU Division One East and the SWALEC Cup. It also acts as a feeder club for the Newport Gwent Dragons....
and Pontypool RFC
Pontypool RFC
Pontypool Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team based in the town of Pontypool. Pontypool RFC has a long history within Welsh rugby and is one of the most notable clubs, being present at the formation of the Welsh Rugby Union in 1881, but disbanding before the turn of the 19th century...
while still a youth. He became a Wales Youth International. He made his debut for Newport against Penarth RFC
Penarth RFC
Penarth Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club based since 1924 at The Athletic Field, Lavernock Road, in Penarth, in the Vale of Glamorgan in Wales.-Origins and early history:...
on the 2nd Sept 1961.
He was vice captain of Newport under Brian Price
Brian Price (rugby player)
Brian Price is a former Wales international rugby union player. He was born in Bargoed and originally played club rugby played for St...
in 1963/4 and went on to captain them for three seasons 1964/5, 1965/6 and 1966/7. He set the club dropped goal record of 14 in 1966/7, in all he scored 228 points including 55 dropped goals for Newport. He never played on the losing side for Newport at sevens. In 1967 Watkins assembled his own team to enter the first ever Glengarth Sevens
Glengarth Sevens
The Glengarth Sevens was an annual 7 a-side rugby union tournament held at Davenport Rugby Club The first Glengarth Sevens was held in 1967 at Headlands Road, home of Davenport Rugby Club...
at Davenport Rugby Club
Stockport R.U.F.C
Stockport Rugby Union Football Club was founded in 1923 as Davenport R.U.F.C, the name changing in 1992. The club play home matches at the Memorial Ground, Headlands Road in Bramhall, Stockport...
where he won the main competition.
In his first season with Newport RFC the team won the Welsh Championship.
Rugby union international career
Watkins made his international debut in 1963, at the age of 20 for WalesWales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
against England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
partnering Clive Rowlands
Clive Rowlands
Clive Rowlands OBE is a former Welsh rugby union footballer and later coach.A teacher by profession, Rowlands played club rugby at scrum-half for Abercraf, Pontypool, Llanelli and Swansea...
. He was a key figure in Newport's epic win over Whineray's 1963 New Zealand All Blacks setting up position for Uzzell's drop goal and kicked a penalty to draw with Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1966. He played 21 times for Wales (including the 1964/5 Triple Crown
Triple Crown (Rugby Union)
In rugby union, the Triple Crown is an honour contested annually by the four national teams of the British Isles who compete within the larger Six Nations Championship: England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. If any one team manages to win all their games against the other three they win the...
and was captain three times in 1967.
Watkins played for invitational team the Barbarians
Barbarian F.C.
The Barbarian Football Club, usually referred to as the Barbarians and nicknamed the "Baa-Baas", is an invitational rugby union team based in Britain...
during his first season for Newport in 1962.
Watkins led the Lions in two tests in Australia in 1966.
International games played
| Wales | |
|---|---|
| Against | Years |
| 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967 | |
| 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967 | |
| 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967 | |
| 1963 | |
| 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966 | |
| 1964 | |
Rugby league career
In October 1967 Watkins signed to play rugby league, joining SalfordSalford City Reds
Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup...
for £15,000, a then club record. He was Salford's captain in 1967 and also in the Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
Final in 1969 when they were beaten by Castleford
Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'...
. He became their record points scorer and steered them to victory in the Lancashire Cup Final in 1972 by beating Swinton
Swinton Lions
Swinton Lions is an English professional rugby league club from Swinton, Greater Manchester. The club has won the Championship six times and three Challenge Cups. They currently play in the Championship.-Early years:...
at Wilderspool, Warrington. He led Salford to the Championship in 1974.
He retired after being injured on the 1974 Australasian tour but came back to mastermind a win in the BBC2 Floodlit Cup Final against Warrington in 1975. In 1976 Salford won the Championship again but lost the play-off final to St. Helens.
His rugby league career ended in 1979 after playing for Swinton for a season. In the 1972–73 season he kicked a world record 221 goals in a season. He also holds the longest scoring run record in 92 consecutive matches for Salford from 19 August 1972 to 25 April 1974. He totalled 929 points from 41 tries and 403 goals. The record refers to scoring consecutively for one club and does not include representative matches.
Career Records
David Watkins is one of fewer than ten Welshmen to have scored more than 2,000 points in their rugby league career.Captain and coach of Great Britain rugby league
Watkins played six international rugby league matches against New Zealand, Australia and France and both captained and coached Great Britain and Wales at rugby league.Honours
- Appointed Newport RFC team manager in 1992/3 and later became the club's Chairman when he was awarded an MBEOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
. - In 2006 David Watkins, along with Falklands WarFalklands WarThe Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
hero Simon WestonSimon WestonSimon Weston OBE is a former British Army soldier who became well known throughout the United Kingdom for his recovery and charity work after suffering severe burn injuries during the Falklands War.-Early life:...
, was installed as a patron of the Welsh Rugby League at a ceremony held in the Welsh Assembly.
Administration
He was managing director of the Cardiff City Blue DragonsCardiff City Blue Dragons
The Cardiff City Blue Dragons were a rugby league team formed in 1981. Their home ground was Ninian Park which was also used by Cardiff City FC. The club spent three seasons in Cardiff before relocating to Bridgend in 1984 as the Bridgend Blue Dragons, who were finally wound up in 1986. The team...
. In 2009, Watkins took over the position of Crusaders president from Jonathan Davies.