Jonathan Davies: 'Fox' in the centre set for 200 not out with Scarlets

Jonathan Davies scored against Bayonne in last season's Challenge Cup group stages as Scarlets reached the semi-final

Friday night will mark Jonathan 'Fox' Davies' 200th game for the Scarlets as he leads his side out to face the Dragons in a pre-season friendly.

Davies' CV takes in 96 Wales caps, six consecutive Test starts for the British and Irish Lions across two tours, player of the series in the second of those tours against New Zealand and after the Dragons game a double centurion with the Scarlets.

The centre's debut came 17 years ago, alongside fellow debutant Ken Owens in a pre-season win against a Northampton Saints side featuring World Cup winners Steve Thompson and Ben Cohen, while All Blacks legend Carlos Spencer scored a brace from fly-half.

"It was a very proud moment back then and I remember it quite well," said Davies.

"I remember [Simon] Easterby giving me a tap on the head when I made a mistake, it was harsh lessons at a young age.

"It does go so quick, I always try to tell the young boys to appreciate every moment of it because you don't know how long you have as a professional."

The Scarlets team saw the return of Stephen Jones after a stint in France with Clermont Auvergne, a move Davies would replicate, while current head coach Dwayne Peel captained the side from scrum-half, two players who have guided Davies both as players and coaches.

"I've been extremely fortunate to be able to have the career the length I have, I'm extremely grateful," said Davies, now 35.

"I'd like to think I've put the miles in and understood early when watching senior players like Steve, Dwayne, and people at national level how they looked after their bodies to play those long careers."

Injuries and "harsh lessons"

Despite this, Davies has had his fair share of injuries. An ACL injury meant he missed a lot of rugby in his first season at 18 and he also missed the 2015 World Cup with a similar injury at the end of his first of two seasons with Clermont Auvergne.

These setbacks have only enhanced Davies' passion to play.

"Having a serious injury at a young age made me realise how fragile I was," said Davies.

"It made me appreciate how lucky I was, when you get back on the field.

"I remember Mark Jones saying, because he'd had serious knee injuries, when you go on the field you don't give up because you know how it can get taken away from you so quickly and that stuck with me from a very young age."

While Davies had an abundance of talent, he admits he learned a few "harsh lessons" along the way, both on and off the field.

"I remember in 2011, Rob Howley and Neil Jenkins called me in before going to Spala in the World Cup camps," said Davies.

"They sat me down and went through my game with a fine tooth comb and said I don't do enough extras.

"I used to think when training was finished you were done as a player where really as an individual it starts, working on all aspects whether it's your defensive contact area, your tackling, your kicking, the handoff - I think I've always had a good handoff.

"It's down to hard work, you are never going to become the finished article but you are always striving to become as good as you possibly can.

"It's something I enjoy which is you put the hours in and see the benefit on the field, it doesn't happen by chance."

Let the good times roll

In a Scarlets shirt Davies has enjoyed both good times and bad, none higher than winning the Pro 12 final in 2017.

"The year we won the league was a patch I thoroughly enjoyed the brand of rugby and the confidence," said Davies.

"That group of players for me was probably the best group I've played with, everyone enjoyed playing together."

Growing up in Bancyfelin, where his parents owned the Fox and Hounds pub - the origin of the 'Fox' nickname - Davies grew up as a Scarlets fan.

"I remember growing up as a Scarlets fan running onto the Stradey Park pitch asking for autographs from the players, and then in my first game there people asking for my autograph it was very different," he said.

"It's not a job, I've always thought to call it that is a bit of a joke.

"You know how important the Scarlets are to Llanelli and Carmarthenshire as well, you realise what you represent and I'm lucky to have the chance to do that."

Davies says while he still feels he can contribute to the Scarlets he has no plans to retire and leave his home club as yet.

"I think it probably depends on whether my younger brother wants to keep me here," joked Davies, whose brother James was appointed head of recruitment in August last year.

"I still feel I contribute to the group but my competitive nature is always there and until that's gone I'd like to play on, a lot of players that have retired say the same, you are a long time retired.

"Whether it's here or elsewhere, and body willing, I do feel like I can add to an environment, I'm still enjoying so that's the main thing."