David Watkins (rugby)

David Watkins

Fly half

Club Years Team Pld T G FG P Abertillery Ebbw Vale Pontypool 1961–67 Newport Total 0 0 0 0 0 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1963–67 Wales 21 2 3 15 1966 British and Irish Lions 6 2 2 12 1962–67 Crawshays Glamorgan Monmouthshire 1962 Barbarians
Rugby league
Position	Three-quarter back, Fullback
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1967–79 Salford 405+2 147 1225 16 2907 1979–80 Swinton 20 2 19 9 53 1982 Cardiff City 2+2 0 0 0 0 Total 431 149 1244 25 2960 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1968–79 Wales 16 2 34 4 74 1971–74 Great Britain 6 0 3 0 6 1975 Wales tour 5+1 1 17 0 37 1974 GB tour 5+2 2 11 0 25
Coaching information
Club Years Team Gms W D L W% 1981–84 Cardiff City Representative Years Team Gms W D L W% 1977 Great Britain 4 2 0 2 50 1976–77 Wales 1 1 0 0 100 1982–85 Wales 2 0 0 2 0
Source: [2][1][3][4][5]

David Watkins

he played more than 400 games over 12 seasons.

Background

Watkins was born in Blaina, Monmouthshire, Wales, he played rugby union for Cwmcelyn Youth, as well as occasional games for Abertillery RFC Ebbw Vale RFC and Pontypool RFC, becoming a Wales Youth International.

Rugby career

Rugby Union

Joining Newport RFC in 1961, he made his début for Newport on 2 September that year against Penarth RFC. In his first season with Newport the team won the Welsh Championship. Watkins played for invitational team the Barbarians during his first season for Newport in 1962.

Watkins made his international début in 1963, at the age of 20, for

where he won the main competition.

Watkins led the Lions in two tests in New Zealand in 1966. He set 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 1964–65 Triple Crown) and was captain three times in 1967.

Wales[7]
Against	Years
England	1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967
Ireland	1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967
France	1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967
New Zealand	1963
Scotland	1963, 1964, 1965, 1966
South Africa	1964

Rugby league

In October 1967 Watkins signed to play rugby league, joining English club Salford for £16,000, a then club record. He was signed the same day as outstanding young talent Jimmy Newbrook. He was Salford's captain in 1967 and also in the Challenge Cup Final in 1969 when they were beaten by Castleford.

Watkins became Salford's record points scorer and steered them to victory in the Lancashire Cup Final in 1972 by beating Swinton at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington. 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. Watkins totalled 929 points from 41 tries and 403 goals. The record refers to scoring consecutively for one club and does not include representative matches.

During the 1972–73 League season Watkins played at centre and kicked two

on Saturday 24 March 1973.

Watkins played right-

Championship

in 1974.

In October 1974, Watkins decided to retire from rugby league,

at Salford took place in 1977.

During the

on Saturday 4 October 1975. Watkins retired having set Salford's "Most Career Points" record with 2,907 points,[11] and is one of fewer than ten Welshmen to have scored more than 2,000 points in their rugby league career.^[12] Watkins' rugby league career ended in 1979 after playing for Swinton for a season. He'd also played six international rugby league matches against New Zealand, Australia and France, and both captained and coached Great Britain and Wales.

During the

In the

Coaching career

International

After he'd stopped playing Watkins coached rugby league.[5] He was the Wales national team coach and also coached Great Britain, taking them to the 1977 World Cup Final, which they lost by one point to the hosts, Australia. David had two stints in the Wales head coach role, separated by 7 years.

Sporting positions
Preceded by John Mantle 1981	Coach Cardiff Blue Dragons 1981–1984	Succeeded by Reformed as Bridgend Blue Dragons

Cardiff City Blue Dragons

Watkins coached in Wales for the Cardiff City club.

Administration

Watkins was appointed Newport RFC team manager in 1992–93 and later became the club's chairman when he was awarded an MBE. In 2006 Watkins, along with Falklands War hero Simon Weston, was installed as a patron of the Welsh Rugby League at a ceremony held in the Welsh Assembly. He was managing director of the Cardiff City Blue Dragons. In 2009, Watkins took over the position of Crusaders president from Jonathan Davies.^[14]

Death

David Watkins died on 3 September 2023, at the age of 81.^[15][16]

References