CAPITAL PIVOT AWARDED PRINCIPALITY HONOURS
WRU PRESS RELEASE
Issued: 08 December 2009
Cardiff outside half Gareth Davies has won the Principality Premiership Player of the Month award for November.
Davies is currently with the Wales Sevens squad in Dubai having caught the eye of Paul John and the Wales Sevens management team.
Principality Premiership holders Cardiff are currently fifth in the table but only three points behind leaders Neath, and were the only Welsh side to win both their opening British and Irish Cup ties in November, beating Pontypridd 22-16 and Birmingham & Solihull 51-20. Davies has amassed 145 points already this season, already closing in on last year's tally of 208.
Premiership head coaches, WRU and Regional academy staff, and selected journalists select the winner who receives £100 from the Principality Building Society, title sponsors of the competition.
Davies, who hails from Cefn Hengoed and played all of his junior and youth rugby for Penallta Rugby Club said, "I'm really enjoying my rugby at the moment. It's my third season with Cardiff and my game seems to have come together well this season. The coaching has been good and Lee Jarvis has helped a lot with my kicking and my all-round game and I've thoroughly enjoyed my Wales Sevens experience so far."
Cardiff assistant coach Jarvis added, "Gareth produced consistently good performances last season and has upped his game again this season, earning him a call-up to Wales Sevens.
"He is working very hard on his game, developing week by week and hopefully he will get some Regional rugby for the Blues by the end of the season. He has a good group of players around him at Cardiff but he controls the game well. I'm sure the experience of these two Sevens tournaments will benefit him greatly, both in terms of his game and his confidence.
"As far as our goals as a team are concerned, we are satisfied with where we are in the League at the moment. This time last year we were in a similar position and we went on to win the title so we are not too worried at the moment. We started slowly but we are now building well. We have played a lot of games recently and we've got a tough match on the weekend at Sardis Road but we are definitely keen to retain our title - and go as far as we can in the British and Irish Cup too."
Mark Richards, Principality Retail Sales Manager for Cardiff, said: "Congratulations to Gareth Davies on winning this month's Player of the Month award. Gareth has had an outstanding start to the season and we hope he returns from Dubai with even greater determination.
"We wish Gareth and the team all the best in the New Year and hope that they will once again reign as Principality Premiership champions."
Gareth Davies fact file:
DoB: 02.03.84
Place of Birth: Caerphilly
Club: Cardiff RFC
Player most admired: Matt Giteau
Sportsman most admired: Tiger Woods
Career outside rugby: Bricklayer
For further information contact Liz Jones, WRU Communications Manager, tel 07736 056669 / email lizjones@wru.co.uk
