Weldon Davies was the recipient of a special presentation on the pitch at Principality Stadium to mark his final international match as Ball Team Manager for the Welsh Rugby Union.
The 75-year-old stalwart from Bedwas has been involved across 206 international matches, with 50 years’ service to rugby.
In addition to the weekend’s presentation, and in recognition of his commitment to the game, the WRU has named Weldon the first of its ‘Fab XV’, a social media campaign to identify the greatest rugby volunteers across Wales.
The campaign is just one of a host of activities being run by the WRU to recognise the importance of the community game in Wales and the volunteers who contribute to it, as part of the celebrations to mark 150 years since the first official game of rugby was played in Wales.
As the first-ever Ball Team Manager, Weldon gathered a group of Cardiff Youth youngsters to help out at the old Cardiff Arms Park before Wales played Australia in 1966 and a young Barry John was making his international debut.
The pair reunited at pitchside one last time on Saturday, when the Wales and Lions legendary fly-half presented Weldon with commemorative glassware for his services to the game.
“What a very special way to end a wonderful 50 years in Welsh rugby,” said an overjoyed Weldon who has missed only one game at the home of Welsh rugby since 1966 – to attend a wedding.
“There’s been some unforgettable memories throughout my time here, but this one tops the lot. I’m sincerely grateful to the WRU and Mr Barry John for this special presentation.”
While John went on to gain 25 international caps, Weldon has been involved in more matches than anybody else in Welsh rugby history including 94 games at the Arms Park, 109 at the Millennium Stadium and three at Principality Stadium.
He recalls: “My first game was also Barry John’s debut for Wales against the 1966 Wallabies. I got all the ball boys into the head groundsman’s office to get changed and prepare for the game and 30 minutes before kick-off Barry came into the room and asked us to fix a stud into his boot. He was pretty calm, but Wales went out and lost to Australia for the first time in history.
“It got better, much better in the Seventies, when Wales won three Grand Slams and then we went out of the old and into the new with the Millennium Stadium. I’ve seen the old Arms Park torn down, re-built, knocked down again, the Millennium Stadium built, and another three Grand Slams, and then renamed from the Millennium to Principality Stadium.”
As well as dedicating half a century of his life to working on match days at Welsh internationals, Weldon also spent 32 years as a coach at Cardiff Youth. He also found time to coach Cathays HSOB, steering them to a Mallett Cup final, was the secretary at home village club Bedwas for 12 seasons as well as a former team secretary with Crawshay’s Welsh Youth.
“Weldon epitomises everything that is good about Welsh rugby. He is wholehearted, dedicated and does everything because he loves and respects the sport,” said Barry John.
“He is the ultimate rugby volunteer. In fact, if they created a club for the unsung and largely unseen heroes and heroines that have kept our game going down the decades then Weldon would have to be the President! He has done a remarkable job for Welsh rugby and the game is going to miss his help and his humour.”
WRU is encouraging clubs, WRU members and the public to shine a light on the good work of rugby volunteers in their community like Weldon by sending videos and pictures of their local community champions to the new community Twitter handle @WRU_Community. As well as acknowledging the great work done by local volunteers for Welsh rugby a select group of community champions will join Weldon Davies in a line-up of the #FabXV to be profiled on WRU digital channels.
The official launch event of the 150th celebrations in Wales will take place at University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) in Lampeter on Wednesday, in recognition of the first known match between Lampeter University and Llandovery College in 1866.
