Gareth Davies, the scrumhalf for Wales, has declared that he’s retiring from international rugby. The veteran, aged 34, garnered 77 caps and recorded 17 tries in his impressive ten-year tenure with Wales.
Davies’ initial exposure to international rugby began with his debut for Wales in a 2014 game against South Africa. A year later, he was picked for the Rugby World Cup, scoring five tries during the tournament.
He was a contributing player in the Six Nations Grand Slam in 2019 as well as the victorious 2021 Championship team, and participated in his third World Cup in France just the prior year.
Through a social media post, Davies shared his decision, expressing his satisfaction with a decade of extraordinary service to Welsh rugby. He talked about the fulfilment of his childhood dream of playing for Wales, cherishing every experience of donning the Welsh jersey.
His career highlights range from attaining his first cap during the summer tour in 2014, participating in three Rugby World Cups, to achieving a Six Nations championship and a Grand Slam – he found all to be remarkable.
He expressed gratitude towards his family, particularly his wife Katy, his friends, and the fans that rallied behind him over the past ten years. Davies emphasised his pride in representing Wales and indicated that with emerging young talent, now is an apt time for him to retire from international rugby. However, he assured his commitment to continue contributing to the sport through his remaining club rugby career.
Wales’ head coach, Warren Gatland, lauded Davies for being a crucial player for the team over the last decade, praising his dedication in each game. He acclaimed memorable moments such as Davies’ tries scored against England in the 2015 World Cup, and against Australia in the 2019 and 2023 World Cups. Gatland stated that Davies and his family should take immense pride in his international achievements.