On Saturday, 14 September their Maes Gwyniad home will host the funeral service of club stalwart Bryan ‘Yogi’ Davies, who died last Friday night some six years after breaking his neck in the final game of his 21 season career.
‘Yogi’ was an inspirational character who won every honour available during his playing career at Bala. He joined the club in 1985 and was 49 when he played his final game against Nant Conwy at the end of the 2006/07 season.
Normally a scrum half, ‘Yogi’ volunteered to play at hooker in the 2nd XV fixture and was injured in the first scrum. It was a cruel end to a wonderful career, and the beginning of an incredible fight for normality.
The former welder quickly came to terms with his injuries and life in a wheelchair and was never far from the Bala clubhouse when he was at home. He even returned to coaching at junior level at the club.
“When Wales won the Grand Slam in 2008 I went up to Stockport Hospital with WRU chairman David Pickering to see Yogi. We took the Triple Crown and Grand Slam trophies with us as a surprise,” recalled WRU president and Welsh Rugby Charitable Trust chairman Dennis Gethin.
“There wasn’t a dry eye in the house as Yogi saw the trophies and we witnessed his reaction. He was a remarkable character, a man who had an amazingly positive attitude to life and never felt bitter about what happened to him.
“The WRCT was able to help his family adapt their home to accommodate him and just like all the 30 or so players the charity supports, he was an inspirational figure. His determination was incredible and his love of rugby never faded.
“He will be greatly missed by his family, his club and Welsh rugby as a whole. He exemplified all that is good about our game and it was a privilege for me to meet him.”
In typical fashion, ‘Yogi’ has insisted that any money raised at his funeral should go towards the club funds to help Bala build a new extension on their clubhouse to house a much needed kitchen.
In an interview with the Daily Post his widow, 47-year-old Susan, explained why ‘Yogi’ wanted his funeral to take place at the ground when he suffered his injury.
““I’ve lost my best friend. Bry was my soul mate. He was a fantastic man. The two of us were like chalk and cheese. I couldn’t have had a better husband than Bry,” said Susan.
“He was so caring of me and the children and, despite his pain, he was always thinking about us. He’s made all the arrangements for the funeral himself.
“For the last 18 months, he has been working towards getting plans through for the extension at Maes Gwyniad so that children can sit down and have something to eat after a match. He felt strongly that Bala was the only rugby club without those facilities.
“Bry didn’t want anybody to be in black and wearing ties at his funeeral. He’s asked for people to wear rugby or football shirts or anything that isn’t too fancy or traditional.
“He hadn’t been well for months. He had become weaker and he’s gone quietly in his sleep in the company of me and the children. He fought bravely until the end.
“Bry was a brave man who fought for six-and-a-half years so that he could see the children growing up and developing. When things were not easy for us – especially for him – we pulled together to support ourselves and moved on.
“He always wanted to look forward to the future. He knew that the end was near but kept his humour until the end – he’s now at peace and not suffering any more.”
Local councillor, and close friend, Dilwyn Morgan, was one of the first to pay tribute to a pillar of the local community.
“In the last six years since the accident, Bryan has really touched a lot of lives. Not just in the rugby community throughout Wales but other communities and individuals as well,” Mr Morgan.
“He was such a strong character, he was always positive right until the end – just an amazing person. He couldn’t understand why people were so kind to him, collecting money to do the family home out so he could come home after two years in hospital – he was absolutely amazed by that.
“I don’t think he realised what a special person he was. Bry showed a lot of persistence and had accomplished a lot – especially with plans for the rugby club. He also carried on coaching the youngsters from his wheelchair. Rugby was always close to his heart.”
Bryan wrote about his life recently, publishing in Welsh his exploits in “Mewndeg Eiliad”. The book is soon to be reproduced in English.
You can learn more about Bryan’s amazing life by logging on to his appeal fund page www.bryandavies.org.uk. The thoughts of the WRU, and the whole of the Welsh rugby family, are with Susan and her two children, Teleri and Ilan, at this difficult time, as well as all his many friends in Bala and across Wales.
Funeral Arrangments for Bryan ‘Yogi’ Davies
Saturday 14th September 2013
Service at 11.00 am on the rugby pitch at Bala RFC.
There will be a Reception afterwards at Bala Golf Club.
Please note that the cremation will be strictly private and will be attended by close family members only
