Ross Davies slips over the border
By Paul July 18 2008
I had no idea who Ross Davies was until he signed for Sale this week. I have no recollection of him playing for Wales at under 21 level or for Connacht. One thing I do know though is we need more player with goatees of which Davies, while in the Premiership with Neath, appears to have demonstrated his chin hair grooming skills to a level emulating Desperate Dan levels of perfection.
I had no idea who Ross Davies was until he signed for Sale this week. I have no recollection of him playing for Wales at under 21 level or for Connacht. One thing I do know though is we need more player with goatees of which Davies, while in the Premiership with Neath, appears to have demonstrated his chin hair grooming skills to a level emulating Desperate Dan levels of perfection.
No pies for Davies though, he's off to try and displace the likes of Ben Evans, Eifion Roberts and some other guy called Sheridan from his new clubs front-row. Kingsley Jones clearly doesn't come to Wales just to appear on Scrum V and show off his shirt collection.
Obviously I'm ignoring the regional elephant that strolled into the room. Why is it that he hasn't been given a chance to play at the top level for a Welsh side? Personally I've never been a fan of Welsh sides signing Welsh players purely because their Welsh, full stop. It's just racism or xenophobia, either way I've never been a fan of definitions. Merit please.
I think it's fair to say Welsh rugby owes a lot to Neath, they've become a sort of fifth region for players who haven't quite made it at regional level, and the Gnoll is one place that can never, ever, become a comfort zone.
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Re: Ross Davies slips over the border
Posted by: Neath 4eva (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:07:18:13:51:10
As an avid Neath supporter who followed the team week in week out this season I know a good bit about Ross Davies. He steadily improved all season and was a major factor in our double winning season because of his immense scrummaging power. He was in the same Wales u21 setup as Alun Wyn Jones and Ian Evans in 2005 and i think they won the grand slam. He was in the Connacht squad but apparently never played against Welsh opposition and kept an Ospreys contracted prop out of the Neath team all season. Because of the sour relationship between Neath and the Ospreys he didnt get an approach off them until the end of the season where he was also approached by the Blues and on the radar of the Scarlets but by this time had already agreed to go to Sale. This guy is only 24, an out and out tight head prop which we in Wales dont have many of and is definitely the real deal, he will go onto bigger things - watch this space.
Re: Ross Davies slips over the border
Posted by: Paul (BiH). (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:07:18:14:18:12
Thanks for that, very informative.
It's good to hear that some of the regions were interested, but clearly they're not scouting well enough, if a side from the north of England can get in first.
Neath are making a good habit of giving players their break in professional rugby, I'll be putting him in the "one's to watch" section on this site for the new season.
It's good to hear that some of the regions were interested, but clearly they're not scouting well enough, if a side from the north of England can get in first.
Neath are making a good habit of giving players their break in professional rugby, I'll be putting him in the "one's to watch" section on this site for the new season.
Re: Ross Davies slips over the border
Posted by: Isaac Dix (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:07:18:15:17:15
Bloody Kingsley Jones on the scrounge again!! 
Sale have now got a lot of Welsh players. Rosey Cheeks from the Blues has gone up there aswell as Dwayne Peel.
Sale have now got a lot of Welsh players. Rosey Cheeks from the Blues has gone up there aswell as Dwayne Peel.
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