According to him ,they''ve only heard about Rugby League in the North West of England. This was after he had biggd himself up telling the TV audience all the big games he'd played him. I think we have a good idea about it over here in the East.

Was, is and always will be a nob.

It's "Jonathan Davies".

I think he's a good summariser. For example if you rewatch our cup finals from 2005 onwards he correctly predicts how things will pan out, I think some people have a problem with anyone who doesn't have a northern accent talking about rugby league.

Part of the problem with selling our great game.

Don't doubt his once playing ability but FFS just does the guy ever watch a game unless he is being paid !!!!

The silence about the shocking decision today a disgrace, how do we sell a game where we ignore the rules, are afraid to criticise & indeed grin like a child if u r a saints fan.

Whatever he did in the past it isn't what he does now, not even close. He's so far off the mark, rarely will say anything controversial that goes against the narrative/officials.
These days he's an even more whiny voice that states the bleedin' obvious and misses or ignores too much, nearly as bad as 'for those people at home' or 'new to the game' Nobleisms which are cringe on another level. And, I've increasingly found Mark Chapman to be well past his sell by, he stinks the place out, I'd rather have Claire B, she's better at the presenting job and doesn't feel the need to denigrate herself or be the sidekick that the pundits can take the pish out of.
Peacock and Wilkin are okay, they're certainly miles ahead of O'Connor and Wells (could you imagine those two f.sticks doing the CC punditry!)
I don't even like Woods commentating and never have, there are far better from various local radio stations, one of the guys who covered Saints a couple of years ago I thought was briliant.

what shocking decision?
The only one was the pre match singer

Typical RLFans hyperbole.

I like Mark Chapman to be honest. Isn’t he a Hull fan anyway after going to Uni here?

Not a fan of Peacock. Poor mans Rio Ferdinand when it comes to punditry. Wilkin would eat himself if he was made of chocolate. Even he’s better than Robbie Hunter Paul though.
There must be other talent out there to use.
I’m sure I saw Mark Flanagan on something and he was really good.

Thank goodness the bbc didn't outbid sky for SL, viewing figures would have crashed thru' the floor.

I don't find Davies inciteful.
Definitely irritating though.

He may well once have been a good player in his day but he is irritating as a commentator. I just don’t believe that he is the best of people the BBC can find for their RL commentary.

I suspect that Davies is viewed as quite an important member of BBC's team because he is the only member who is truly known by the wider community. More people in the UK would know who Davies is than Wilkin, Peacock, Kear and Paul combined I reckon so he probably adds a bit of pull and credibility.

Davies was already a national star when he came to our sport due to his performances in the 5 Nations and we allowed his profile to stay high due to the exposure our sport received in the late 80s, early 90s. John Player, Challenge Cup, Premiership all on the BBC. Internationals on the BBC. Regular Sunday evening Scrum Down programme. Our lads don't have that now.

Anyway, average pundit, important profile.

On what basis, surely you don't think the commentators, pundits and presenters are better at SKY?
Free to air equals more people watching, or do you think everyone has SKY who watches or might want to watch rugby league?

How does a person acting as a pundit who was relevant 30 years ago, and that to a small % of people 'add a bit of pull', to whom, who is he pulling in to watch?
Please don't say RU supporters, the vast majority of Welsh fans and plenty of non welsh can't stand him, or the casual punter who might recognise the name if they were asked but would be likely to be utterly unaware of the game and even less likely to know he is on the team covering the match. Do you honestly beleive that someone is going to think, oh, I didn't know that JD was commentating but I'll be interested watching this match now I do, if in fact they do find out?

People are either going to watch or not watch for the most-part, will come across it channel surfing and dismiss or watch a bit, nothing at all to do with 'jiffy'. it's not advertised on the BBC as, the RL CC with 'former Welsh rugby union international Jonathan Davies as a pundit'.
They use him because of laziness and nepotism, I don't know if he still does a bit for Scrum V but has he done any of the Welsh RU internationals of late?
IMO get shot, if you're going to get an ex-pro then get someone who has at least been on the tongue in more recent times, Gavin Henson would be more relevant if you wanted to go down the ex Welsh RU international route, not that it's going to draw anyone but a change away from JD could never be a bad thing.