Thomas Mervyn Davies was born in Swansea on 9 December 1946 and educated at Penlan Comprehensive School and Swansea College of Education. Whilst teaching in London he played club rugby for London Welsh but later returned to Swansea. In 1976 a sudden illness and collapse in a cup match at Cardiff Arms Park forced him to retire from playing at the age of 29. Considered the finest number 8 of his generation, Mervyn Davies toured with the British Isles to New Zealand in 1971 and South Africa in 1974, making 25 appearances, including eight test matches, and scoring eight tries. He played 38 internationals for Wales and was captain in nine games. He also captained the Barbarians against Australia in 1976 as well as playing for the Club against South Africa and Scotland in 1970 and New Zealand in 1974, but injury forced him to withdraw on the morning of the famous match against the All Blacks in 1973. Mervyn Davies died on 15 March 2012 aged 65.