He’s got a big new job and a new streamlined look. For Phil Davies, it’s very much a new beginning in a rugby life that spans more than four decades.
The former Wales international and much-travelled coach is now some three months into his role as World Rugby’s Director of Rugby, having taken over from ex-Ireland boss Joe Schmidt. Not to put too fine a point on it, he is just about the most powerful Welsh person in the sport.
He’s also in the best shape he’s been for years, having lost some five stone in the space of eight months, more on which later. You can read about Davies' eventful rugby journey here. First of all, how did his high-profile new job come about? He had began the year as director of rugby at Leeds Tykes, having returned to the club where he began his coaching career way back in 1996. But then everything changed when his phone rang out of the blue.
