Shaun Edwards has told Jonathan Davies he will be grateful "until the day I die" after he rescued him from a sporting hole 28 years ago today.
Edwards is one of many people paying tribute to Jiffy in a special programme to mark his 60th birthday on S4C next week.
His gratitude goes back to October 22, 1994, when Jiffy scored the match-winning try for Great Britain against Australia after Edwards was infamously sent off for a clothesline tackle just 20 minutes into the rugby league Test at Wembley. Davies scored the decisive try in an 8-4 victory, producing a remarkable performance on a day that ranks as one of the most memorable in the history of the sport.
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In the programme, which airs on Thursday night, Edwards appears on screen to say: "Hi Jiffy, Shaun Edwards here mate, from the south of France.
"I just want to say, happy birthday to you mate on your 60th birthday. And I’ll thank you again, for saving my backside at Wembley in 1994, when I was very harshly sent off, I thought! You saved my backside with a wonderful, wonderful try and I will always thank you until the day I die. Happy 60th and have a fabulous day."
Davies then says: "Every time he sees me, he gives me a kiss on my forehead and thanks me that we won the game. I really enjoyed my career up there, it was an experience, because they all wanted to kill me! But it was nice to show what I could do."
As he marks his 60th birthday, S4C will host the special celebration among Jiffy’s family and friends, in a programme called Jonathan 60. Held at the Coal Exchange in Cardiff, Eleri Sion guides viewers through the story of Jonathan’s life; from the euphoric highs on the rugby pitch and the happy family times, to the tragic events which have also changed his life.
There are also anecdotes from the likes of John Inverdale, Nigel Owens and Davies' former Widnes and Great Britain Rugby League team-mate, Martin Offiah. Davies' switch from rugby union in Wales to professional rugby league in northern England in 1989 sparked a media circus, and Martin witnessed it all.
Offiah said: "He took over the back page of every single red top newspaper in the country – The Sun, The Daily Mirror, The Star, and I realised what star power was all about. I didn’t know what the word paparazzi was until Jiffy walked out from the bench (on his debut), and there’s more photographers around him than Princess Diana. I’m walking out to play and I’m thinking, ‘I better have a good game today!’ I scored five tries, but I don’t think I even got a mention in the report after the game!
"Hands down, Jiffy was the most talented footballer I ever played with. I loved playing with him, it was an honour to say that I’d played with such a great player."
Jonathan 60 airs at 9.00pm on Thursday night, 27 October, on S4C. English subtitles available.
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