Rugby legend Jonathan Davies receives CBE

Wales rugby legend Jonathan “Jiffy” Davies has said he is “really proud” after being made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the New Year Honours.

The 63-year-old Wales and British and Irish Lions centre has been recognised for services to people with cancer and for broadcasting.

“It means a lot and I am very privileged and honoured to accept it,” said the former player, who was a part of the iconic 1988 Five Nations Triple Crown-winning team.

Fellow broadcaster Gabby Logan, rugby World Cup winner Megan Jones and a wildlife photographer are among the other Welsh names to be singled out for an honour, with the King’s 2026 list featuring 67 recipients from Wales in total.

Davies, originally from Trimsaran, Carmarthenshire, has been broadcasting for 28 years in both rugby league and rugby union.

The BBC pundit, who won 37 caps for Wales in rugby union, as well as making nine appearances for Wales in rugby league and 10 for the British and Irish Lions across his international career in the 1980s and 1990s, said it was “nice” to have the accolade for broadcasting, but “the important one was for cancer”.

Davies, president of Velindre Cancer Centre, said: “This award goes to everyone who has ever helped Velindre and especially the amazing staff who work there.”

He added that he, along with the fundraising team at the charity, had raised more than £50m through bikes rides and events, and said he has a ride planned from Seville to Marbella next year so needed to “get back on his bike”.

Davies was first made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to rugby league football in the 1995 New Year Honours.

Then in 2015 Birthday Honours, he was promoted to Officer of the British Empire (OBE), for voluntary and charitable services to people with cancer.

An OBE goes to Jeff Edwards, who said he felt “greatly honoured” after receiving the letter regarding his promotion for services his to survivors of disasters, to charity and to the community in Aberfan.

“It marks an achievement after many years of doing work here in Aberfan.”

Mr Edwards was one of 240 schoolchildren at Pantglas Junior School when a coal waste tip came crashing down a hillside, engulfing the school and surrounding homes.

On that day 116 children and 28 adults died. Jeff was the last child rescued during the Aberfan disaster, and aged just eight was buried alive for 90 minutes.

“Being a survivor you have lots of memories of what happened to you on that particular day as I do.

“Hopefully from that learnt experience we can help government services to improve the provision for survivors and the bereaved.”

Wildlife photographer, filmmaker and author Sue Flood said she was “thrilled beyond words” to become an OBE.

Speaking from Antarctica, where she is currently working, she said: “I consider myself extremely lucky to have a job which allows me to document Earth’s wildest and most spectacular landscapes.”

Ms Flood, from Gwynedd, was recognised for her services to nature conservation, science and the natural world.

“I am so grateful for the recognition and to Sir David Attenborough for being a constant source of inspiration since I was a child and who led me to pursue this wonderful career,” she added.

Eternal Media founder, Marcus Fair, from Wrexham, received an OBE for services to addiction recovery and tackling homelessness.

His company produces documentaries and mentors film crews composed of people rebuilding their lives after crime and/or addiction.

Mr Fair was previously made a MBE for services to ex-offenders, as well as addiction recovery and homelessness.

A British Empire Medal (BEM) goes to Ffion Mitchell-Langford, 29, for services to the natural marine environment and to communities in north Wales.

Ms Mitchell-Langford said: “I can’t believe that this has happened to be honest… I’m still in shock.

“It means the world to me, as a young person from Wales, and someone who, I hope, works hard across the area to deal with the problems that our environment has.”

Meanwhile, Prof Meena Upadhyaya is being awarded a damehood for services to community cohesion in Wales and to medical genetics.

She is an Indian-born Welsh medical geneticist and an honorary professor at Cardiff University.

She received an OBE in 2016 for services to medical genetics and the Welsh Asian community.

Other Welsh recipients of an OBE include consultant cardiothoracic surgeon Prof Syed Saeed Ashraf, from west Glamorgan; director of national adoption service and foster Wales, Suzanne Griffiths, from south Glamorgan; and foster carer Esther Wilson, from Powys.

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens said the recipients had been “commended for the wonderful work they do, improving the lives of others and making a difference to their communities, often giving their time for free, raising money for charity or supporting vulnerable people”.

“The list covers every aspect of life in Wales from sport to health and wellbeing and music and the arts.

“The work of these extraordinary people has a huge impact on countless lives. I’d like to thank each and every one of them for their passion and dedication and for the inspirational role they play.”