View source for David Watkins (rugby)

{{Short description|Welsh rugby footballer (1942–2023)}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
| name                = David Watkins<br /><small>{{nobold|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE}}}}</small>
| fullname            = David Watkins<ref name="Statistics at en.espn.co.uk (RU)"/>
| image               = 
| image_size          = 
| caption             = 
| birth_date          = {{Birth date|df=yes|1942|3|5}}
| birth_place         = [[Blaina]], [[Monmouthshire (historic)|Monmouthshire]], Wales
| death_date          = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2023|9|3|1942|3|5}}
| death_place         = 
| height              = {{convert|5|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}}
| weight              = {{convert|10|st|3|lb|lb kg|abbr=on}}
| retired             = yes
| first = RU
| ru_position         = [[Fly half (rugby union)|Fly half]]
| ru_club1            = [[Abertillery RFC|Abertillery]]
| ru_year1start       = 
| ru_year1end         = 
| ru_appearances1     = 
| ru_tries1           = 
| ru_goals1           = 
| ru_fieldgoals1      = 
| ru_points1          = 
| ru_club2            = [[Ebbw Vale RFC|Ebbw Vale]]
| ru_year2start       = 
| ru_year2end         = 
| ru_appearances2     = 
| ru_tries2           = 
| ru_goals2           = 
| ru_fieldgoals2      = 
| ru_points2          = 
| ru_club3            = [[Pontypool RFC|Pontypool]]
| ru_year3start       = 
| ru_year3end         = 
| ru_appearances3     = 
| ru_tries3           = 
| ru_goals3           = 
| ru_fieldgoals3      = 
| ru_points3          = 
| ru_club4            = [[Newport RFC|Newport]]
| ru_year4start       = 1961
| ru_year4end         = 1968
| ru_appearances4     = 202
| ru_tries4           = 32
| ru_goals4           = 14
| ru_fieldgoals4      = 55
| ru_points4          = 294
| ru_teamA            = [[Wales national rugby union team|Wales]]
| ru_yearAstart       = 1963
| ru_yearAend         = 67
| ru_appearancesA     = 21
| ru_triesA           = 2
| ru_goalsA           = 14
| ru_fieldgoalsA      = 3
| ru_pointsA          = 15
| ru_teamB            = [[British and Irish Lions]]
| ru_yearBstart       = 1966
| ru_yearBend         = 
| ru_appearancesB     = 6
| ru_triesB           = 2
| ru_goalsB           = 
| ru_fieldgoalsB      = 2
| ru_pointsB          = 12
| ru_teamC            = [[Crawshays RFC|Crawshays]]
| ru_yearCstart       = 1962
| ru_yearCend         = 67
| ru_appearancesC     = 
| ru_triesC           = 
| ru_goalsC           = 
| ru_fieldgoalsC      = 
| ru_pointsC          = 
| ru_teamD            = [[Glamorgan County RFC|Glamorgan]]
| ru_yearDstart       = 
| ru_yearDend         = 
| ru_appearancesD     = 
| ru_triesD           = 
| ru_goalsD           = 
| ru_fieldgoalsD      = 
| ru_pointsD          = 
| ru_teamE            = [[Monmouthshire County RFC|Monmouthshire]]
| ru_yearEstart       = 
| ru_yearEend         = 
| ru_appearancesE     = 
| ru_triesE           = 
| ru_goalsE           = 
| ru_fieldgoalsE      = 
| ru_pointsE          = 
| ru_teamF            = [[Barbarian F.C.|Barbarians]]
| ru_yearFstart       = 1962
| ru_yearFend         = 
| ru_appearancesF     = 
| ru_triesF           = 
| ru_goalsF           = 
| ru_fieldgoalsF      = 
| ru_pointsF          = 
| position            = Three-quarter back, {{rlp|FB}}
| club1               = [[Salford Red Devils|Salford]]
| year1start          = 1967
| year1end            = 79
| appearances1        = 405+2
| tries1              = 147
| goals1              = 1225
| fieldgoals1         = 16
| points1             = 2907
| club2               = [[Swinton Lions|Swinton]]
| year2start          = 1979
| year2end            = 80
| appearances2        = 20
| tries2              = 2
| goals2              = 19
| fieldgoals2         = 9
| points2             = 53
| club3               = [[Cardiff City Blue Dragons|Cardiff City]]
| year3start          = 1982
| year3end            = 
| appearances3        = 2+2
| tries3              = 0
| goals3              = 0
| fieldgoals3         = 0
| points3             = 0
| teamA               = [[Wales national rugby league team|Wales]]
| yearAstart          = 1968
| yearAend            = 79
| appearancesA        = 16
| triesA              = 2
| goalsA              = 34
| fieldgoalsA         = 4
| pointsA             = 74
| teamB               = [[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain]]
| yearBstart          = 1971
| yearBend            = 74
| appearancesB        = 6
| triesB              = 0
| goalsB              = 3
| fieldgoalsB         = 0
| pointsB             = 6
| teamC               = [[Wales national rugby league team|Wales tour]]
| yearCstart          = 1975
| yearCend            = 
| appearancesC        = 5+1
| triesC              = 1
| goalsC              = 17
| fieldgoalsC         = 0
| pointsC             = 37
| teamD               = [[Great Britain national rugby league team|GB tour]]
| yearDstart          = 1974
| yearDend            = 
| appearancesD        = 5+2
| triesD              = 2
| goalsD              = 11
| fieldgoalsD         = 0
| pointsD             = 25
| coachteam1          = [[Cardiff City Blue Dragons|Cardiff City]]
| coachyear1start     = 1981
| coachyear1end       = 84
| coachgames1         = 
| coachwins1          = 
| coachdraws1         = 
| coachlosses1        = 
| coachteamA          = [[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain]]
| coachyearAstart     = 1977
| coachyearAend       = 
| coachgamesA         = 4
| coachwinsA          = 2
| coachdrawsA         = 0
| coachlossesA        = 2
| coachteamB          = [[Wales national rugby league team|Wales]]
| coachyearBstart     = 1976
| coachyearBend       = 77
| coachgamesB         = 1
| coachwinsB          = 1
| coachdrawsB         = 0
| coachlossesB        = 0
| coachteamC          = [[Wales national rugby league team|Wales]]
| coachyearCstart     = 1982
| coachyearCend       = 85
| coachgamesC         = 2
| coachwinsC          = 0
| coachdrawsC         = 0
| coachlossesC        = 2
| updated             = 28 July 2020
| source              = <ref name="Profile at lionsrugby.com (RU)">{{cite web|url=https://www.lionsrugby.com/player?PlayGuid=DW582221|title=Profile at lionsrugby.com (RU)|publisher=lionsrugby.com|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="Statistics at en.espn.co.uk (RU)">{{cite web|url=http://en.espn.co.uk/wales/rugby/player/6769.html|title=Statistics at en.espn.co.uk (RU)|publisher=espn.co.uk|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="Statistics at wru.co.uk (RU)">{{cite web|url=http://www.wru.co.uk/eng/matchcentre/squads_wales_player_archive.php?player=26382&includeref=dynamic|title=Statistics at wru.co.uk (RU)|publisher=wru.co.uk|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org (RL)">{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/david-watkins/summary.html|title=Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org (RL)|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}</ref><!--<ref name="Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.englandrl.co.uk/player_records?search=Watkins&submit=Go&c=GB|title=Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk|publisher=englandrl.co.uk|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}</ref>--><ref name="Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org (RL)">{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/coaches/david-watkins/summary.html|title=Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org (RL)|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}</ref>
}}

'''David Watkins''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE}} (5 March 1942 – 3 September 2023) was a Welsh [[List of dual-code rugby internationals|dual-code rugby international]], having played both [[rugby union]] and [[rugby league]] football for both codes' national teams between 1963 and 1979.<ref name="Statistics at en.espn.co.uk (RU)"/><ref name="Statistics at wru.co.uk (RU)"/> He captained the [[British and Irish Lions]] rugby union side,<ref name="Profile at lionsrugby.com (RU)"/> and made six appearances for the [[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain]] rugby league team.<ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org (RL)"/><ref>{{cite news
| title = Gareth Thomas completes switch from union to Wales rugby league side Crusaders
| work = telegraph.co.uk
| publisher = Telegraph Media Group Limited
| date = 5 March 2010
| url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/wales/7376424/Gareth-Thomas-completes-switch-from-union-to-Wales-rugby-league-side-Crusaders.html
|access-date=10 December 2013
| location=London}}</ref> With the [[Wales national rugby league team]] he played in every match of the [[1975 Rugby League World Cup|1975 World Cup]], and with English club [[Salford Red Devils|Salford]] he played more than 400 games over 12 seasons.

==Background==
Watkins was born in [[Blaina]], [[Monmouthshire (historic)|Monmouthshire]], Wales, he played [[rugby union]] for Cwmcelyn Youth, as well as occasional games for [[Abertillery RFC]] [[Ebbw Vale RFC]] and [[Pontypool RFC]], becoming a Wales Youth International.

==Rugby career==
===Rugby Union===
Joining [[Newport RFC]] in 1961, he made his début for Newport on 2 September that year against [[Penarth RFC]]. In his first season with Newport the team won the Welsh Championship. Watkins played for invitational team the [[Barbarian F.C.|Barbarians]] during his first season for Newport in 1962.

Watkins made his international début in 1963, at the age of 20, for [[Wales national rugby union team|Wales]] against [[England national rugby union team|England]] partnering [[Clive Rowlands]]. He was a key figure in Newport's win over Whineray's 1963 [[New Zealand national rugby union team|New Zealand All Blacks]]. He was vice captain of Newport under [[Brian Price (rugby union)|Brian Price]] in 1963–64 and went on to captain them for three seasons 1964–65, 1965–66 and 1966–67. He set the club dropped goal record of 14 in 1966–67. In all he scored 228 points including 55 dropped goals for Newport. He never played on the losing side for Newport at sevens. In 1967 Watkins assembled his own team to enter the first ever [[Glengarth Sevens]] at [[Stockport R.U.F.C|Davenport Rugby Club]] where he won the main competition.

Watkins led the Lions in two tests in New Zealand in 1966. He set up position for Uzzell's drop goal and kicked a penalty to draw with Australia in 1966. He played 21 times for Wales (including the 1964–65 [[Triple Crown (rugby union)|Triple Crown]]) and was captain three times in 1967.

{|class=wikitable
|-
!colspan=2|'''Wales'''<ref>''Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881–1981'', David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980) pg472 {{ISBN|0-7083-0766-3}}</ref>
|-
!Against !!Years
|-
|{{ru-rt|England}}||1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967
|-
|{{ru-rt|Ireland}}||1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967
|-
|{{ru-rt|France}}||1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967
|-
|{{ru-rt|New Zealand}}||1963
|-
|{{ru-rt|Scotland}}||1963, 1964, 1965, 1966
|-
|{{ru-rt|South Africa}}||1964
|}

===Rugby league===
In October 1967 Watkins signed to play [[rugby league]], joining English club [[Salford Red Devils|Salford]] for £16,000, a then club record. He was signed the same day as outstanding young talent Jimmy Newbrook. He was Salford's captain in 1967 and also in the [[Challenge Cup]] Final in 1969 when they were beaten by [[Castleford Tigers|Castleford]].

Watkins became Salford's record points scorer and steered them to victory in the Lancashire Cup Final in 1972 by beating [[Swinton Lions|Swinton]] at [[Wilderspool Stadium]], [[Warrington]]. In [[1972–73 Northern Rugby Football League season|the 1972–73 season]] he kicked a world record 221 goals in a season. He also holds the longest scoring run record in 92 consecutive matches for Salford from 19 August 1972 to 25 April 1974. Watkins totalled 929 points from 41 tries and 403 goals. The record refers to scoring consecutively for one club and does not include representative matches.

During the 1972–73 League season Watkins played at centre and kicked two [[Try (rugby)|conversion]]s in Salford's 12–7 defeat by [[Leeds Rhinos|Leeds]] in the [[1972–73 League Cup (rugby league)|Player's No.6 Trophy]] Final at [[Fartown Ground|Fartown]], [[Huddersfield]] on Saturday 24 March 1973.

Watkins played at {{rlp|ce}} and scored a [[Try (rugby)|try]], and five conversions in Salford's 25–11 victory over Swinton in the [[1972 Lancashire Cup]] Final at [[Wilderspool Stadium]], [[Warrington]] on Saturday 21 October 1972, played at {{rlp|ce}} and scored a try, and three conversions in the 9–19 defeat by [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]] in the [[1973 Lancashire Cup]] Final at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington on Saturday 13 October 1973.<ref name="1973-1974 Lancashire Cup Final">{{cite web|url=http://wigan.rlfans.com/news.php?readmore=2066|title=1973-1974 Lancashire Cup Final|publisher=wigan.rlfans.com|date=31 December 2011|access-date=1 January 2012|archive-date=13 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713171648/http://wigan.rlfans.com/news.php?readmore=2066|url-status=dead}}</ref> During the [[1973 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France]], Watkins was selected to play for Great Britain against Australia in the 3rd Ashes Test as a reserve. He led Salford to the [[Rugby Football League Championship|Championship]] in 1974.

In October 1974, Watkins decided to retire from rugby league,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mather |first1=Harold |title=End of career and an era |work=The Guardian |date=4 October 1974 |location=London |page=23 |id={{ProQuest|185756989}}}}</ref> but was persuaded to return by Salford three months later.<ref>{{cite news |title=Watkins back tonight |work=The Guardian |date=10 January 1975 |location=London |page=23 |id={{ProQuest|185814318}}}}</ref> He played at {{rlp|ce}} and scored two conversions in the 10–5 victory over [[Warrington Wolves|Warrington]] in the [[1974 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy]] Final [[Replay (sports)|replay]] at Wilderspool Stadium, [[Warrington]] on Tuesday 28 January 1975. He played in all eight of Wales' matches in the [[1975 Rugby League World Cup]] tournament. For the [[1975–76 Northern Rugby Football League season]] Salford won the Championship by finishing as League Leaders but lost the [[Rugby League Premiership|Premiership]] Final. Watkins played for Salford at {{rlp|fb}}, kicking two [[drop goal]]s in the defeat by [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]]. He finished that season as the League's top point scorer. Watkins' [[Testimonial match]] at Salford took place in 1977.

During the [[1975–76 Northern Rugby Football League season]] Watkins played at fullback, and scored two conversions in the 7–16 defeat by [[Widnes Vikings|Widnes]] in the [[1975 Lancashire Cup]] Final at [[Central Park (Wigan)|Central Park]], [[Wigan]] on Saturday 4 October 1975.
Watkins retired having set Salford's "Most Career Points" record with 2,907 points,<ref name="Salfordat greyhoundderby.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.greyhoundderby.com/Salford%20RL.htm|title=Salfordat greyhoundderby.com|publisher=greyhoundderby.com|date=31 December 2011|access-date=1 January 2012}}</ref> and is one of fewer than ten Welshmen to have scored more than 2,000 points in their rugby league career.<ref>Robert Gate (1988). "Gone North – Volume 2". R. E. Gate. {{ISBN|0-9511190-3-6}}</ref> Watkins' rugby league career ended in 1979 after playing for Swinton for a season. He'd also played six international rugby league matches against New Zealand, Australia and France, and both captained and coached Great Britain and Wales.

During the [[1978 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France]], Watkins was selected to captain Wales from fullback in their one-off Test match against the Australians, scoring all of the home side's points in their 3–8 loss at [[St. Helen's Rugby and Cricket Ground]] in [[Swansea]].<ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org (RL)"/>

In the [[1986 New Year Honours]], Watkins was appointed a [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]] (MBE) for services to rugby league football.<ref>{{cite news|title=No. 50361|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/50361/supplement/16/data.pdf|work=The London Gazette|page=16|date=31 December 1985}}</ref>

==Coaching career==
===International===
After he'd stopped playing Watkins coached rugby league.<ref name="Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org (RL)"/> He was the [[Wales national rugby league team|Wales national team]] coach and also coached [[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain]], taking them to the [[1977 Rugby League World Cup|1977 World Cup]] Final, which they lost by one point to the hosts, Australia. David had two stints in the Wales head coach role, separated by 7 years.

{{s-start}}
{{S-sports}}
{{Succession box
| before = [[John Mantle (rugby)|John Mantle]]<br/>1981
| after  = {{nowrap|Reformed as ''Bridgend Blue Dragons''}}
| title  = Coach<br/>{{leagueicon|canterbury|size=18}}<br/>[[Cardiff Blue Dragons]]
| years  = 1981–1984
}}
{{s-end}}

===Cardiff City Blue Dragons===
Watkins coached in Wales for the [[Cardiff City Blue Dragons|Cardiff City]] club.

==Administration==
Watkins was appointed Newport RFC team manager in 1992–93 and later became the club's chairman when he was awarded an [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]]. In 2006 Watkins, along with [[Falklands War]] hero [[Simon Weston]], was installed as a patron of the Welsh Rugby League at a ceremony held in the Welsh Assembly. He was managing director of the [[Cardiff City Blue Dragons]]. In 2009, Watkins took over the position of [[Crusaders Rugby League|Crusaders]] president from [[Jonathan Davies (rugby, born 1962)|Jonathan Davies]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Jonathan Davies|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/solpda/ifs_sport/hi/newsid_8145000/8145967.stm|work=BBC News|date=10 January 2011}}{{dead link|date=September 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

==Death==
David Watkins died on 3 September 2023, at the age of 81.<ref>{{cite news |title=Rest in Peace, David Watkins. |url=https://salfordreddevils.net/rest-in-peace-david-watkins/ |access-date=3 September 2023 |publisher=Salford Red Devils |date=3 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=RIP Dai Watkins |url=https://wrl.wales/rip-dai-watkins |website=Welsh Rugby League |date=3 September 2023 |access-date=4 September 2023}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{British and Irish Lions 1966}}
{{British and Irish Lions team captains}}
{{Wales squad - 1975 World Cup}}
{{Navboxes
|title= Great Britain RL
|list1=  
{{Great Britain squad – 1974 Tour}}
{{Great Britain squad - 1977 World Cup}}
{{British Rugby League Hall of Fame}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title= Coaching positions
|list1=  
{{Great Britain national rugby league team coaches}}
{{Wales national rugby league team coaches}}
}}
{{Salford Red Devils Captains}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Watkins, David}}
[[Category:1942 births]]
[[Category:2023 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Welsh sportsmen]]
[[Category:Abertillery RFC players]]
[[Category:Barbarian F.C. players]]
[[Category:British & Irish Lions rugby union players from Wales]]
[[Category:British rugby league administrators]]
[[Category:Cardiff City Blue Dragons coaches]]
[[Category:Cardiff City Blue Dragons players]]
[[Category:Crawshays RFC players]]
[[Category:Dual-code rugby internationals]]
[[Category:Ebbw Vale RFC players]]
[[Category:Glamorgan County RFC players]]
[[Category:Great Britain national rugby league team coaches]]
[[Category:Great Britain national rugby league team players]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Monmouthshire County RFC players]]
[[Category:Newport HSOB RFC players]]
[[Category:Newport RFC players]]
[[Category:Pontypool RFC players]]
[[Category:Rugby league centres]]
[[Category:Rugby league players from Blaina]]
[[Category:Rugby union fly-halves]]
[[Category:Rugby union players from Blaina]]
[[Category:Salford Red Devils captains]]
[[Category:Salford Red Devils players]]
[[Category:Swinton Lions players]]
[[Category:Wales international rugby union players]]
[[Category:Wales national rugby league team captains]]
[[Category:Wales national rugby league team coaches]]
[[Category:Wales national rugby league team players]]
[[Category:Wales rugby union captains]]
[[Category:Welsh rugby league coaches]]
[[Category:Welsh rugby league players]]
[[Category:Welsh rugby union players]]