William Anthony Davies (16 September 1939 – 6 April 2008) was a New Zealand

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In it ...

footballer, who played 17 games for the

All Blacks The New Zealand national rugby union team, commonly known as the All Blacks ( mi, Ōpango), represents New Zealand in men's international rugby union, which is considered the country's national sport. The team won the Rugby World Cup in 1987, ...

in 1960 and 1962 as a full-back or centre. Davies was nominated for the All Blacks while playing for the

University of Auckland , mottoeng = By natural ability and hard work , established = 1883; years ago , endowment = NZD $293 million (31 December 2021) , budget = NZD $1.281 billion (31 December 2021) , chancellor = Cecilia Tarrant , vice_chancellor = Dawn F ...

's rugby union team, and made his debut on 14 May 1960 in Sydney, Australia against

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , establishe ...

. His international debut was against

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...

on 27 August. He played 14 games for the All Blacks that year, then transferred to

Dunedin Dunedin ( ; mi, Ōtepoti) is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand (after Christchurch), and the principal city of the Otago region. Its name comes from , the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. Th ...

to study medicine, where he played 39 games for the

University of Otago , image_name = University of Otago Registry Building2.jpg , image_size = , caption = University clock tower , motto = la, Sapere aude , mottoeng = Dare to be wise , established = 1869; 152 years ago , type = Public research collegiate ...

. In 1962, Davies returned to the All Blacks for two games against Australia, bringing his total national caps to 17.. Whilst furthering his medical studies in England, Davies played for Blackheath (1971, 1972) and

London Irish London Irish RFC is a professional rugby union club which competes in the Premiership, the top division of English rugby union. The club has also competed in the Anglo-Welsh Cup, the European Champions Cup and European Challenge Cup. While ...

(1972–74). Davies died in Sydney, Australia on 6 April 2008.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Davies, Tony 1939 births 2008 deaths Rugby union players from Auckland New Zealand international rugby union players London Irish players New Zealand rugby union players University of Auckland alumni University of Otago alumni People educated at King's College, Auckland Auckland rugby union players Otago rugby union players Rugby union fullbacks