ONE of Newport Rugby Club's greatest post-war players, has died at the age of 72 after a short illness.

Glyn Davidge, a number eight forward who occasionally played flanker, made 270 appearances for Newport between 1952 and 1965. He captained the team in the 1962-63 season.

He also won nine Wales caps between 1959 and 62 and was a member of the British Lions tour party in South Africa in 1962.

His most memorable appearance for Newport was in the club's greatest triumph when they beat New Zealand in October 1963, the only team in Great Britain and Ireland to defeat them on their 30-match tour lasting four months.

Mr Davidge's part in that game has long since entered Rodney Parade folklore. His captain Brian Price, one of the greatest locks the game has produced, recalled how "Glyn was black and blue for a fortnight afterwards".

"He frustrated the All Blacks and they still say the same thing now. Only last year I was talking to Brian Lochore (number eight giant who became New Zealand captain) when they were over here and he said he didn't know how Davidge could stick it, they just couldn't shift him off the ball, where it was legal to be in those days.

"But it wasn't just that. People forget that Glyn was a very good player. We played sevens together quite a few times, he had very good hands. He was the kind of player who was always there, the sort of bloke I loved playing with.

"People loved Dav. I remember being injured in one game, lying there waiting for Gerry Lewis (the former Wales and Newport physio) but he ran straight past me and went to Dav to give him a nip of brandy before treating me.

"Glyn was a fantastic clubman, he was Newport through and through.

"He was a terrific servant to Newport Rugby Club and a great friend of mine."

David Watkins, chairman of Newport and a household name who played a leading role in that famous victory over the All Blacks, also paid tribute to him.

"He was quite simply unique," he said. "He was fearless as a player and the epitome of what Newport RFC is all about. He was so loyal and a real hero.

"The All Blacks thought he was mad to absorb the punishment he did that day but he thought of nothing but the team."

He leaves a widow Pat, sister Doreen and brother Henry.