John Davies: We must keep our 'icons'

WELSH rugby must find a way of chasing away the predators who are circling the “icons” of the domestic game — or face the stark reality that success in Europe will continue to prove elusive for the regions.

That is the belief of a former international who was part of the first wave of talent from this side of the Severn Bridge to head away in the professional era.

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   John Davies says George North would have been an icon for the Scarlets this season.

   
   

John Davies left Neath for Richmond in 1997, later returning to Wales to play for Llanelli and the Scarlets.

But with George North, Jamie Roberts and Dan Lydiate having departed the Welsh game this summer, joining James Hook, Mike Phillips, Luke Charteris and Aled Brew as front-line Welsh players playing outside the regions, the former tight-head believes something has to be done to hold on to the jewels of the game in this part of the world.

“We can’t just sit back and let our best players leave,” said Davies.

“George North would have been an icon for the Scarlets this season, a player who would have attracted supporters to Parc y Scarlets and inspired youngsters throughout West Wales and beyond.

“Instead he will be playing for Northampton.

“The worrying thing is he is only 21.

“When I left for Richmond in 1997, I was 28, having spent seven years playing for Neath. I came back a couple of years later to play 250-odd games for Llanelli and the Scarlets.

“But these boys are leaving Wales at a much younger age and that has to be a worry.

“It would have been great if we could have kept hold of George until his mid-20s or beyond. But the playing field for the regions and clubs in England and France isn’t level.

“The leading clubs in those countries can somehow afford to pay money that our sides can’t.

“It is a huge concern, because Welsh rugby has to have icons.”

“I would have loved to have seen George play live this season, but that isn’t going to be possible with him moving to the east Midlands.

“But we have to get to grips with this if we are serious about doing well in Europe.”

Players out of contract at the end of the season are understood to include Alun Wyn Jones, Ian Evans and Adam Jones at the Ospreys, Jonathan Davies and Rhys Priestland at the Scarlets, Leigh Halfpenny and Sam Warburton at the Blues and Toby Faletau at the Dragons.

John Davies: We must keep our "icons"