A sports writer who joined a South Wales daily straight from school is to retire after 46 years with the title.

South Wales Argus chief sports writer Robin Davey is believed to be the longest-serving full-time sports journalist in Wales and possibly in the whole of the UK.

Joining the newspaper in 1965 from school, he moved to sport full time in 1969, covering the golden era of Welsh rugby during the 1970s.

He also toured New Zealand with the British and Irish Lions in 1977 when Gwent provided seven players, and travelled to three Rugby World Cups including this year’s event in New Zealand.

Robin has reported on nearly 300 rugby internationals and three years ago received the Welsh Sports Journalist of the Year award.

When not on international duty he has covered the highs and lows of Newport Rugby Club and, since the inception of regional rugby, the Newport Gwent Dragons.

Said Robin:  “Having just returned from a fantastic trip covering Wales in the World Cup in New Zealand and watching the national team perform so creditably, I decided to finish on a high.

“I have enjoyed a wonderful career and been privileged to have met some of the all time greats of Welsh, and indeed, world rugby. Some of those I am now honoured to call friends.

“With Wales’ great displays in New Zealand and the youthful nature of the squad, including Dragons Dan Lydiate and Toby Faletau, it would seem that a new golden era is a real possibility.

“So I feel it is a good time to hand over the reins to someone else.”

Argus editor Gerry Keighley said: “Robin¹s loyalty to the Argus and his enthusiasm are unbounded, despite doing the job for an amazing 46 years.

“He has an unrivalled list of contacts at the very top echelons of Welsh and world rugby and is regularly phoned by major names who want to tell him something first.

“He has broken countless exclusives over the years and will be a very hard act to follow.

“Despite the problems it caused him he was never afraid to challenge those in authority and I have regularly had to refuse calls from those in power to muzzle him. Robin¹s first loyalty has always been to his paper and his readers.”

Sports editor Phil Webb said: “Robin is a walking encyclopedia of Gwent and Welsh rugby and, as far as I am concerned, he is irreplaceable.

“His contribution to Welsh rugby in his capacity as a journalist is enormous. Forty-six years covering our national game: that¹s astonishing. And his boundless enthusiasm has never faltered over the decades. I¹m pretty sure we won¹t see his like again.”

Robin will continue to cover Wales and the Dragons until mid December.  His final international game will be the Millennium Stadium clash with Australia on 3 December.