Certainly one of the greatest No. 8s of the amateur era, and probably the greatest at that position in the history of Welsh rugby, Mervyn Davies died this past week.

Merve the Swerve was special. He was tall and lanky, but powerful and quick. He was a central, and very recognizable figure on several championship Wales teams and victorious British Lions squads. Davies dies of cancer at the age of 65 on March 15.

It could well have been much earlier, as Davies was forced to retire early after suffering a brain haemorrhage in March 1976 during a match for Swansea.

Captain of Wales when they were at the top of their game, he earned 38 consecutive caps until the brain injury. Few who saw him play will forget him, and he deserves to be remembered among the best.