Davies, 74, is the former British & Irish Lions (1968 and 1971), Wales and Cardiff wing who starred in the famous ‘70s triple Grand Slam winning backline which also featured the likes of Gareth Edwards and JPR Williams.
He won 50 caps, including four for the Lions, amassing 23 tries during his international career and also featured for Llanelli, Loughborough College, Cambridge University, the Barbarians and London Welsh.
He became a rugby writer with The Times upon retirement and was appointed Lions Team Manager and figurehead for their 2009 tour of South Africa, an honour which coincided with his nine year tenure as a WRU Board member between 2005 and 2014 and is currently chairman of Guinness PRO14 Rugby.
Former flanker Cobner, 73, is also a former Lion (1977) and featured 19 times for Wales between 1974 and 1978. After a rugby career, in which he was a Pontypool stalwart, he stayed in the game as a coach, selector and administrator becoming Welsh rugby’s first Director of Rugby in 1996.
During eight years in the role, he was one of the key figures responsible for attracting New Zealander Graham Henry to Wales as head coach in 1998 and was also instrumental in appointing Steve Hansen as Henry’s successor, before retiring in 2004 – although he continued to work in rugby at age grade level thereafter.
David, 71, is a former dual code international and was part of the same 1976 Grand Slam winning team as both Cobner and Davies, winning four caps in all between 1973 and 1976 – often vying with Cobner for a starting position at flanker – and also toured with the Lions in ’74.
He played his club rugby for both Pontypool and Llanelli, featuring for the Scarlets in the famous 9-3 win over New Zealand at Stradey Park in 1972, before joining Cardiff Rugby League in 1974 and picking up another Wales cap in League.
He also played in the Barbarians side which beat the All Blacks in 1973, one of the seven to have had a hand in ‘the greatest try ever scored’ famously finished by Gareth Edwards, and most recently has served as President of Rhydyfelin rugby club after a career in business followed his retirement from the game.
“Welsh rugby is blessed with an illustrious history and we have three highly notable figures from a golden era standing for our next Presidency,” said WRU chairman Gareth Davies.
“It is a huge testament to each candidate that we can be extremely confident, whoever wins the election, our next President will succeed the wonderful Dennis Gethin in the post with all of the necessary gravitas befitting of this important role.
“We are delighted to welcome three individuals not just well respected in Wales, but each with their own significant profiles in the world game, to contest our highest ambassadorial office.
“The WRU President is asked to represent the best of Welsh rugby around the community game in Wales and around the globe as our primary ambassador and we are all now looking forward to seeing which of our high calibre candidates is elected by our member clubs .”
Incumbent President Gethin stands down at the conclusion of the next AGM on 17th November, having completed 12 distinguished years in office.
The President has a key role in upholding the core values and strategy of Welsh Rugby and acknowledging the heritage and traditions that have grown up over the WRU’s long and proud history.
Clubs will vote with the option of giving an order of preference to each of the three candidates or simply indicating a single preferred candidate, with the winner set to be announced at the end of September.
