Dafydd Lockyer
| Birth name | Dafydd Lockyer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 5 June 1985 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Aberdare, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 102 kg (16 st 1 lb; 225 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Dafydd Lockyer is a semi-professional rugby union player for Pontypridd RFC in the Principality Premiership and Abercwmboi RFC. Lockyer also works as an electrician.[1]
Early career
[edit]Born in Cwmbach, Wales, Lockyer played junior, youth and senior rugby for Abercwmboi RFC. In 2001, while still playing at Abercwmboi, Lockyer also represented the Pontypridd Academy, before gaining honours with both Wales Youth and Welsh Schools.
Lockyer joined the senior Pontypridd squad in 2003, scoring eight tries in his debut season and making most of his appearances as a winger.[2]
Initial success and move to Neath
[edit]Lockyer was called up to regional rugby, with the Celtic Warriors' Academy in the summer of 2004 but the region would be controversially disbanded and Lockyer returned to Pontypridd.
The 2004-05 season saw Lockyer establish himself as Pontypridd's inside centre and his performances won a call up to that year's Wales under 21s. By 2006 Lockyer was an integral part of Pontypridd's Welsh Cup victory, and again featured for Wales under 21s. Lockyer was also part of the Cardiff Blues Development squad.[3]
Lockyer signed for Neath RFC in 2007 and participated in that club's double-championship-winning side. However, his time at Neath was marked by a number of injuries and his appearances were limited.
Return to Pontypridd
[edit]He returned to Pontypridd in 2009 and his second tenure saw unprecedented success for the club.[2]
Lockyer would win another cup winner's medal in 2011 and was also named Premiership Player of the Year. The following season saw Pontypridd crowned Premiership champions for the first of four consecutive titles.
During this period, Lockyer was again named Premiership Player of the Year in 2013 and won two more cup titles in 2013 and 2014. Lockyer would captain the side for the double winning season of 2013-2014, and also represent The Barbarians against Combined Services, Lockyer was also named Player of the Year by the Pontypridd Supporters' Club in 2015, the year Pontypridd won the WRU Challenge Cup. Lockyer would retain the club's captaincy until his last game in 2020.[4]
On 15 December 2018 Lockyer made his 350th appearance for Pontypridd.[5]
Retirement
[edit]On 25 August 2021, during the enforced hiatus in Welsh rugby brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, Lockyer announced he was stepping down from the Pontypridd squad, to focus on family, his partner Kelly, and work and to end his playing days back at Abercwmboi RFC.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ Daf shines in winning Barbarians team Archived 23 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine at RCT Homes, November 2014. Retrieved 23 February 2015
- ^ a b "Lockyer's Return" Archived 27 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine at Pontypridd RFC, 18 April 2009. Retrieved 23 February 2015
- ^ Dafydd Lockyer profile at Pontypridd RFC (undated). Retrieved 23 February 2015
- ^ Supporters' Club Player of the Year—Dafydd Lockyer Archived 10 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine at Pontypridd RFC official site. Retrieved 29 July 2015
- ^ Thomas, Graham (15 December 2018). "Dafydd Lockyer . . . 350 Not Out For Ponty". Dai Sport. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
- ^ "Dafydd Lockyer – Ponty Legend". ponty.net. 25 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.