The trip to Sardis Road at the end of January 2024 will live long in the memory in the Davies household.
Not for the result but for the fact that the link between the Davies family and Pontypool RFC – their hometown club – extended even further.
Vince has already cemented his status at the club after representing the badge 109 times between 1988-1993 and scoring the club's only try in the WRU Cup final in 1991.
Son Callum has since followed in his footsteps to help the club to three National Championship titles (two unbeaten) and a WRU Championship Cup across 67 appearances in the famous red, white and black jersey but there will always be special memories about his 68th as he was able to line up alongside younger brother Tye for the first time.
Tye was marking his return from a serious leg injury but impressed with a dynamic debut display at centre that earned him the accolade of Pontypool’s Man of the Match.
The younger Davies brother initially looked destined for a career in football, having been associated with Cardiff City, Newport County and Cwmbran Town during his teenage years.
He spent the longest period – seven seasons – with Cardiff City before undergoing trials at Swansea City.
Tye attended Abersychan School and played youth rugby for Talywain and Cwmbran.
In 2020, he moved to Gloucester to join Hartpury College. He was a part of the 2023 ACE league-winning team and continues to reside in Gloucester, attending Hartpury University and representing Hartpury University RFC.
Tye served as the captain of the Dragons U18 2023 RAG squad and has been a member of the Dragons Academy since 2020 and represented Wales U19s in 2023.
His rugby future looks bright and Callum was full of pride to have been part of his sibling’s first senior outing.
“My old man has been here and played here, I’ve been at Pontypool and it means a lot to all of us but to have my younger brother playing with me, I’ve always wanted it to happen and I’m just full of pride,” expressed the beaming back-row forward.
“To play with your brother is one thing but to do it for your hometown, especially in the Welsh Premiership, I don’t think you can much better than that.
“For us local boys, that’s all you want to do.
“I thought he had a really good game, showed what he can do out wide.
“Considering he hasn’t played for about eight months, you can’t fault his effort and he can only go up from where he is now.”
Teenager Tye explained that playing with Callum has already been a childhood dream that the pair held and was delighted to finally make it come true.
He admitted to a bit of nerves before heading out onto the Sardis Road pitch but is already looking forward to when he get next wear the jersey.
“It was challenging. I was a bit nervous as this was my first game back from injury but I thought we did well,” he said.
“There were certain things we could have done better but we’ll look to improve on that in the next couple of weeks.
“We used to say about it all the time to each other but never used to believe we’d do it.
“It’s mad now that it has come true.”
