Colin Charvis
A fiercely competitive and unconventional flanker who captained Wales through a turbulent period, becoming one of the most capped and recognizable figures in the game.
Born 1972 (age 54)·Wales and British Lions international rugby union player·Birthday: December 27·Generation X
Biography
Colin Charvis's rugby journey was unorthodox from the start. Born in England, he qualified for Wales through his grandmother and chose the red jersey, embarking on a career marked by rugged athleticism and surprising skill for a back-row forward. Charvis was not a stereotypical Welsh rugby aristocrat; he was a hard-nosed, mobile warrior who could play across the back row, pilfer balls at the breakdown, and finish tries with a winger's pace. His leadership qualities saw him handed the Welsh captaincy in 2002, a role he held during a challenging era of transition. Selected for the 2001 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia, his physicality fit the Lions' ethos perfectly. With his distinctive shaved head and goatee, Charvis became a cult hero, amassing 94 caps for Wales and leaving a legacy of relentless commitment on the field.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Colin was born in 1972, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Colin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1972
#1 Movie
The Godfather
Best Picture
The Godfather
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Colin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1972Born
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1977Started school
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1985Became a teenager
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1988Could drive
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1990Could vote
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Turned 21
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2002Turned 30
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2012Turned 40
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 50
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 54 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Captained the Wales national rugby union team from 2002 to 2004.
- Was selected for the British & Irish Lions squad for their 2001 tour of Australia.
- Earned 94 caps for Wales, scoring 22 tries—a remarkable total for a forward at the time.
- Played professionally for Swansea, the Celtic Warriors, the Newcastle Falcons, and the Dragons.
- Scored a famous try against England in the 2005 Six Nations Championship, showcasing his pace and power.
Did You Know?
He was born in Sutton Coldfield, England, and initially played for English club sides.
Charvis worked as a model for a Welsh clothing brand during his playing career.
He once scored a hat-trick of tries for Wales against Japan in 2001.
After retiring, he served as a defense coach for the Turkish national rugby team.
“I was never the golden boy, but I could do the work.”
