![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/2_GarethD2.jpg\")
Sarah Howe and Gareth Davies, of Blackbear (Image: social mon)<\/p>\nGareth Davies’ business Blackbear Property is thriving but he has no intention of hanging up his boots just yet<\/p>\n
13:38, 08 Jun 2025Updated 14:39, 08 Jun 2025<\/p>\n
Sarah Howe and Gareth Davies, of Blackbear (Image: social mon)<\/p>\n
There have been few better servants to Welsh rugby over the past decade than Gareth Davies.<\/p>\n
The 77-cap former Wales star played a pivotal role in Welsh rugby’s successes in the latter part of the first Warren Gatland<\/a> era.<\/p>\n Who can forget his sensational try against England at Twickenham which knocked Stuart Lancaster’s side out of their own World Cup? Or his crucial interception try which went a long way to knocking over the Wallabies in Tokyo four years later?<\/p>\n “When I look back at my career there are a few moments which stand out,” he said. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here.<\/a><\/p>\n “The first is winning my first cap out in South Africa in 2014 which was a special day for myself and my family. The second one would be scoring that important try against England in 2015 to knock them out of their own World Cup.<\/p>\n “There was also winning the Six Nations Grand Slam in 2019 and reaching a semi-final in the World Cup.<\/p>\n “Scoring that interception try against Australia was great as well. I played against some great players as well and I’d have to say Faf de Klerk was the toughest opponent I faced.<\/p>\n “I played against him a few times and he was a tough guy to play against because he was everywhere defensively.<\/p>\n “He literally had a free role to do what he wanted and I think his role was to close me down at every ruck.<\/p>\n “A lot of scrum-halves would defend out on the wide edges or short side but I found Faf was shadowing me at every ruck I went to. He’d be trying to scrag me and I always found him difficult to play against.<\/p>\n “I’m also privileged to have played with some great players and if I had to pick one I’d say Liam Williams in his prime was the best I’ve played with.<\/p>\n “When he was in his prime he was a hell of a player and would never have a bad game.<\/p>\n “He would always give 100% and have something magical up his sleeve.”<\/p>\n It’s safe to say Davies’ rugby career has been a resounding success, but the 34-year-old has been just as successful off the field.<\/p>\n A year ago Davies, alongside his business partner Simon John, set up his own estate agent, Blackbear Property in Haverfordwest, with it going so well they recently opened up a second branch in Llansamlet, Swansea<\/a>.<\/p>\n “We launched Blackbear just over 12 months ago,” Davies tells WalesOnline. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.<\/a><\/p>\n “We opened our first office in Haverfordwest with my business partner Simon John. We’ve got a couple of guys working with us, Jamie and Jack, who cover Pembrokeshire<\/a> and Sarah who takes care of Swansea.<\/p>\n “They are the agents doing all the hard work in the office day to day.<\/p>\n “I’ve known Simon for quite a long time because he’s worked alongside my parents with the hotel’s Gellifawr Woodland Retreat and Emlyn Hotel which are popular wedding venues.<\/p>\n “Simon approached me about two years ago and he seemed to think there was a bit of a gap in the market for an estate agent in Haverfordwest.<\/p>\n “I’m obviously not hands-on day to day but rugby is my main priority at the moment.<\/p>\n “I’m also going to be working with my dad’s car business, Cawdor cars. We have six garages covering south west Wales so I’m going to be very busy.<\/p>\n “Between Blackbear and working in the car industry with my dad hopefully the transition from when I finished playing rugby will be fairly smooth.<\/p>\n “Once I finish I’ll be busy trying to sell houses or cars.”<\/p>\n Blackbear credits its runaway success to its blend of the modern and traditional, embracing technology and forming an exclusive partnership with digital agency, The Honey agency, while also maintaining a strong high street presence.<\/p>\n Davies is confident the commitment and drive which helped him reach the top as a player will bode well in the world of business.<\/p>\n “It’s going to take a lot of hard work but I’m confident we will continue being successful and go from strength to strength,” he said.<\/p>\n “Similar to rugby, if you work hard and are willing to put the hours in you can achieve success. I’ve got some ambitious expansion plans and Swansea is just the start.<\/p>\n “We will actively be looking to set up franchise operations in areas such as Cardiff<\/a>, Monmouthshire<\/a> and Bristol.<\/p>\n “But I’ve still got a lot left to give as a professional rugby player.”<\/p>\n Last summer Davies made the difficult decision to call time on his international career after 77 caps, two Six Nations<\/a> titles and two British & Irish Lions tours.<\/p>\n Davies is at the tail-end of his career but has been the best scrum-half in Wales by some distance this season, playing a crucial role in the Scarlets<\/a>‘ resurgence as they reached the United Rugby Championship play-offs which means they are the only Welsh representative in next season’s Investec Champions Cup.<\/p>\n “I think what’s been massive for me last season is I retired from international rugby this time last year after the summer tour,” Davies tells WalesOnline.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1_GarethD.jpg\")
Jamie, Jack, Sarah & Gareth Davies of Blackbear(Image: social mon)<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/0_JS348871226.jpg\")
Gareth Davies of Scarlets is one of the form players in Wales right now (Image: Huw Evans Agency)<\/p>\n