Davies extends stint in the Steel City

31/08/2020

Oliver Davies will go into his fourth season as an Eagle after signing a one-year contract.

The back-rower has enjoyed a successful spell in Sheffield, despite the club’s relegation fears during 2018, and has gone on to work for the club’s foundation - coaching rugby league in schools across the city.

Davies scored a pivotal try in the semi-final of the 1895 Cup, a competition the Eagles went on to win at Wembley, and regular game time has seen the forward become a key part of the squad.

Singing Davies’ praises on the pitch, as well as his off-field work in the community, Eagles chief Mark Aston said: “When he first came to the club, Olly was finding his feet as all players do when they come out of certain systems,”

“I have to credit him for the way he came back in 2019 as the work he did in pre-season was immense.

“He showed his potential and progression, which is something we demand.

“Olly wants to improve, and we’re delighted we have players like that who want to stay at the club.

“People probably don’t see the work he does on the field, and his work off the field is outstanding too. The amount of work he does in the schools is massive for us.

“He isn’t just developing into a good rugby league player; he has developed into a great role model for those kids and the feedback we continually receive from the schools he visits is fantastic but not at all surprising as he’s a great all round individual.”

Delighted with his contract extension, Davies commented: “I don’t want to be going anywhere else,”

“This year hasn’t really happened so we’re dead excited to get going as I’m sure we have all missed it.

Davies was pleased with how the club made amends for a hit-and-miss 2018 as they rose up the league table and also claimed silverware at Wembley.

He added: “If we could emulate 2019 again in the 2021 season, we’d all be really happy, but we do want to go that one step further in the league,”

“That’s what we’re aiming for as well as eventually defending our 1895 Cup.”

By Dan Fowler, photo by Alex Coleman