When he was picked at the age of 19 to partner his former Pontypridd County School outside half Glyn Davies at half-back against England at Cardiff Arms Park on 19 January, 1946, they became the youngest ever half-backs to play for Wales.
Glyn Davies, who was only 18 at the time, had played in the unbeaten Pontypridd County School XV that Wynford Davies had captained in 1945/46 before leaving in the summer of 1946 to go to Cardiff University. While Glyn Davies went on to win 11 caps for Wales, Wynford never played in a full cap international.
The Davies’ were unable to weave their schoolboy magic at the higher level as England left Cardiff with a 25-14 victory and Scotland inflicted a 25-6 defeat on Wales in their second outing at St Helen’s, Swansea on 2 February.
Born in Pontypridd on 22 November, 1926, Davies earned Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Divinity degrees at university in Wales and was ordained in 1952 – the same year he married his wife, Jean.
He emigrated to New Zealand in 1960 and was inducted as a chaplain at St Enochs, New Brighton Christchurch Presbytery 19 May, 1960. He moved on to Wyndham Mataura Presbytery 5 September 1963 and then Greyfriars Mt Eden Auckland Presbytery 30 November, 1967.
‘He resigned in 1970 but returned after a period teaching and and lecturing in 1977, going on to work at St Andrew’s, Invercargill on 3 February, 1977, Glendowie Auckland Presbytery on 31 January, 1985 and then Halkett Christchurch Presbytery on 1 July, 1990.
He spent four months at Long Crendon Baptish Church, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, on a pulpit exchange with the Rev Jeff Steadman in 1988 and retired on 31 December, 1991. He went on supply at Oteramika-Kennington, Southland Presbytery in December, 1997.
His death leaves the former Cardiff wing Graham Hale as the only reaming Wales War Time ‘cap’. The WRU would like to offer its condolances on behalf of Welsh rugby to Wynford’s family in New Zealand.
