A Welsh international rugby player who went to school in Whitland has called time on his Scarlets career.

Jonathan Davies, known to fans as 'Foxy', will be leaving the club after 16 action-packed seasons, marking the end of an era for both the player and the club.

Originally from Bancyfelin in Carmarthenshire, Davies attended Ysgol Dyffryn Taf in Whitland.

His rugby journey began at a young age, turning heads when he made his debut for the Scarlets against Northampton Saints at just 18 years old in 2006. Since then, he has made an impressive 209 appearances in a Scarlets jersey and has also played in France with Clermont Auvergne.

Davies is no ordinary player; a former Scarlets captain, he was a core part of the team when they won the Guinness PRO12 title in 2016-17. The team stole the show with jaw-dropping, attack-minded play, further cementing their place in rugby history books.

The Welsh centre has had a glimmering career on the international stage too, playing in test series for the British & Irish Lions against Australia in 2013 and New Zealand in 2017, ultimately being named player of the series during the latter tournament.

He has also represented Wales in 96 matches - participating in two Grand Slam victories, two championship wins, and two Rugby World Cups in New Zealand, 2011 and Japan, 2019. On top of these considerable feats, Davies has had the honour of captaining the national team four times.

He said: “I am going to miss this place and this group. Day to day, being around a great bunch of boys and saying you are working, you feel very privileged."

He bears memories of his first day at the Academy at Stradey; walking into the changing room for training, navigating among the 'guvnor's' of the dressing room, and learning the ropes of the game. His career has also been enriched with moments of great personal joy, such as playing alongside his brother, James 'Cubby' Davies, who retired in 2022.

Davies added: “Playing alongside my brother was another special moment and winning a trophy as part of the same side is something I am very proud of.”

As for the future, whilst the Scarlets chapter comes to a close, his rugby journey is far from over. Davies expressed wishes to investigate opportunities to play elsewhere, possibly even abroad. He said: “I would love to see if there is another opportunity to play elsewhere, whether that be abroad or not.”

Paying tribute to Davies, Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel, said: “I played in the same game as Foxy’s debut, there was a lot of talk of this kid from Bancyfelin coming through and when he turned up he was more developed than some of the senior boys!

"He was always destined for big things."

Davies' departure seems bittersweet, leaving behind a club where he learned, played, and led. Yet, his intentions for future play indicate that though this era is ending, the rugby world hasn't seen the last of Jonathan Davies, especially as his testimonial year is starting in June.