Death of Jimmy Davidson: Jimmy Davidson, the former Ulster and Ireland player and coach, has died aged 64. He passed away peacefully on Saturday after a long battle with illness. He was often described as a coach ahead of his time, and having been lost prematurely to coaching, albeit to establish himself as an acerbic and opinionated analyst on BBC Northern Ireland and columnist, now he has been lost to life far too early as well.
Davidson, or "Jimmy D", as he became affectionately known, was born in Armagh on October 23rd, 1942 and grew up in Weston-Super-Mare in Somerset. Educated at St Brendan's College in Bristol, he played flanker for the England Schoolboys, under-15, 17 and 19s before studying geography at Queen's University.
He played Gaelic football for Pearse Ógs as well as rugby for Queen's University before "the Ban" obliged him to focus his sporting energies on rugby. He played with Dungannon in the 60s and 70s while teaching at Royal School, Dungannon and having earned a degree in PE at Loughborough College, taught PE and sports psychology at Belfast's Stranmillis College.
Davidson made his Ireland debut against France at Lansdowne Road in January 25, 1969, linking with Ken Goodall and Noel Murphy in the backrow. Ireland won 17-9 and blindside Davidson retained his place in the side for that season's games against England (won 17-15), Scotland (16-0) and Wales (24-11).
He won his fifth cap in January 1973 when Ireland claimed a memorable 10-10 draw with New Zealand at Lansdowne Road. His sixth and final Irish cap was also against the All Blacks, in June 1976, when he was called up for the injured Seamus Deering in an 11-3 defeat.
He took over as Ireland coach from the late Mick Doyle in 1987 for three years, leading Ireland to five wins while blooding 13 players. He was to the forefront in bringing in conditioning, diet and strength training.
He was always a willing and passionate talker about the game, and thereafter, he brought his knowledge to TV punditry and his column in the Belfast Telegraph. Sadly, due to his illness, he had to end his writing with the Telegraph in February.
Previewing the Ireland-England match at Croke Park, Davidson wrote: "This will be my last page in a series of consecutive articles written for the Belfast Telegraph in the last six years. It will complete a compilation that I have had bound together so that my two-year-old granddaughter Alex will be able to view the match from her high chair in the grandstand."
He is survived by his wife Norma, daughters Kellie and Christy and extended family, and we express our sincere condolences to them.
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