Phil Davies rugby player
Phil Davies rugby player

Phil Davies

19th Oct 1963 0.00m/kg Coach

Davies played his club rugby for Llanelli and enjoyed a distinguished 46 cap career for Wales between 1985 and 1995.

His first international appearance came in a 24–15 victory over England in Cardiff, a game that saw his brother-in-law, Jonathan Davies, also make his debut.

Davies' coaching career began as director of rugby at Leeds Tykes from 1996 to 2006, and in his debut season in charge, the club finished third in the National Division Four, two places above the previous season.

In 2001, he guided Leeds to the National Division One title, losing just two games all season. They were therefore promoted to the top elite tournament for the 2001–02 English Premiership season.

In August 2006, he returned to his former playing club, the Scarlets after being appointed Director of Rugby.

In his first season in charge at the region, he guided the side to a fourth-placed finish in the 2006–07 Celtic League, while also leading the side to the semi-finals of the 2006–07 Heineken Cup.

In 2007–08, the Scarlets struggled under Davies, losing all six games in the 2007–08 Heineken Cup, and dropping to sixth place in the 2007–08 Celtic League, which prompted his sacking in April 2008.

After leaving Llanelli, he served as a consultant head coach with Cardiff RFC from November 2008 until May 2009.

His first job as head coach was the 2009 Six Nations Under 20s Championship, where Wales finished fifth.

In 2010, Davies joined recently relegated side Worcester Warriors as forwards coach. He helped return Worcester back to the Premiership after they won the 2010–11 RFU Championship with just one loss all season.

A Cardiff Blues Director of Rugby role soon followed in May 2012, and after leaving Cardiff in March 2014, it was announced in November that year that Davies was appointed as technical adviser for the Namibian national side ahead of the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Following the resignation of Danie Vermeulen, Davies became Namibia's new head coach in June 2015.

After winning all of their matches in the 2018 Africa Gold Cup, Namibia qualified for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Career

Namibia Namibia
Coach
2015 - 2023