About Abel Davies
Lived 1861 – 1914 (aged 52–53). Abel Davies was a British rugby union player and physician.
Abel Christmas Davies (1861 – 18 June 1914) was a Welsh international rugby union wing who played club rugby for London Welsh and international rugby for Wales. Davies was a tall but powerful wing, and was noted as being able to sprint 100 yards in exactly ten seconds.
Rugby career Davies came to note as a rugby player when representing London Welsh, while studying medicine in London. He was part of the London Welsh team which face the touring New Zealand Natives in February 1889. Although London Welsh lost 2-1, Davies scored the try against the Maoris.
It was while playing for London Welsh that Davies was selected to represent Wales as part of the 1889 Home Nations Championship; becoming the third player from the club to be chosen for their country that season. The other representatives being Rowley Thomas and Martyn Jordan. Davies made his Wales debut on 2 March, at St Helen's in a game against Ireland. Captained by legendary Wales player Arthur 'Monkey' Gould, Davies was one of three players to make just a single-cap appearance during the game, along with Llanelli's Giotto Griffiths and Thomas Morgan. The Irish won the game by two tries to nil and was the first Irish win in Wales. Davies lost his position in the next season to Percy Lloyd and was never selected for Wales again.
International matches played Wales 1889
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Important facts
People in Abel Davies's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Abel Davies's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Abel Davies?
Welsh rugby union player
When was Abel Davies born?
Abel Davies was born in 1861 in Llandysul.
When did Abel Davies die?
Abel Davies died on 18 June 1914 in Gowerton.
What was Abel Davies's occupation?
Abel Davies was a rugby union player and physician.
What nationality was Abel Davies?
Abel Davies was British.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Abel Davies. https://biography.guide/abel-davies/
MLA: "Abel Davies." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/abel-davies/.
Chicago: "Abel Davies." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/abel-davies/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-25 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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