Past Players

Past Players #2 Dai Burton 

   Dai Burton played in South Wales for Maesteg and various other clubs before coming to Jersey in the 70’s; he played in numerous Siam Cup encounters and 1st XV games in the seventies and eighties. Unusually,Dai has played as both a forward and a back for Jersey; to my knowledge he has played at scrum-half,fly-half, centre and wing-forward, each position for significant periods - this gave him a great breadth of experience and knowledge which stood him in good stead when he was 1st XV captain and even more so when he turned to coaching the club. Prior to the formation of the leagues, JRFC hosted many of the top sides from the UK; these clubs used a trip to Jersey as a break from their normal fixtures - Dai played against most of these teams and also played during the Club’s Centenary season, when many internationals came over to help with the celebrations. The game that Dai remembers with the greatest affection is when Jersey beat the full Hampshire XV. Dai enjoyed both the physical and intellectual aspects of the game,enjoying the challenge of outwitting the opposition but not backward in coming forward in a confrontation. If one of the lesser club teams were short, he would turn out and play; often at short notice and out of position, to add to his experience. His contacts within the game (ie Paul Turner) helped immensely when he turned to coaching the JRFC, anyone who has coached at any level will know how there are times when inspiration is lacking; it is great to get ideas from other coaches.
   Dai has played a big part in bringing the 1st XV up to the current high level in the Leagues, unimaginable ten years ago, giving a huge amount of his leisure and business time to this end - only over the last three years easing back as professional coaches were employed by JRFC. He has ruffled a few feathers in his time, when one is involved in the selection of the island side for a long period it is easy for players who do not make the squad to accuse Dai of picking his favorites, however, all should remember that he can only put fifteen on the park at any one time.
   Dai, luckily, as a hotelier,could manipulate his working hours around his rugby commitments so his business career was not too badly affected; indeed many of the visiting sides stay in one of his hotels.
Socially Mr Burton is a very patriotic Welshman with an inbred distain of English rugby, particularly at Six Nations time; he has been known to buy a drink, but it is more likely to be wine rather than beer these days. rn