Welsh rugby has united in tribute to its 1976 grand slam captain Mervyn Davies following his death at the age of 65.

The Welsh Rugby Union said Swansea-born Davies passed away after a long illness.

Rob Howley, Wales assistant coach and former national team captain, described Davies, who was known worldwide as "Merv the Swerve", as a "colossus" and "icon".

Ex-playing colleague Phil Bennett believes Davies would have led the 1977 British & Irish Lions in New Zealand had his career not been cut short by a brain haemorrhage suffered during a Welsh Cup semi-final the year before.

Another former team-mate – former London Welsh, Wales and the Lions – John Taylor, said: "This is one of the saddest days of my life. I have lost a brother."

Davies played for London Welsh and Swansea, winning 38 caps and touring with the Lions to New Zealand in 1971 and South Africa three years later, featuring in eight Tests.

He only finished on the losing side nine times with Wales, and news of his death is particularly poignant, with it being announced barely 24 hours before Wales go for RBS 6 Nations title and a Grand Slam against France at the Millennium Stadium.

Flags at the stadium flew at half-mast yesterday, while, today, both teams will wear black armbands, in addition to a minute's silence being observed.

Howley began his eve-of-game press conference by paying a glowing tribute to Davies. "It's a sad day for Welsh rugby," he said. "The players, the management, we all send our sincere condolences to the family. Unfortunately, I never played with him, but from what I'm told he was a colossus.

"To only lose nine games as a player for Wales, the amount of caps, to play eight Tests for the Lions, he's an icon of world rugby. We can speak frequently of world-class players, but the words icon and legend belong to Merv the Swerve.

"The players were told this morning, and it gives us even more motivation for what is hopefully going to be a great day for Welsh rugby."

Bennett, a team-mate of Davies with Wales and the Lions, said news of his death was "absolutely devastating".

He recalled how Davies was inspired to improve as a player during the 1974 Lions tour to South Africa by the presence of England's Andy Ripley, a rival for the No.8 jersey.

Bennett said: " 'Rippers' was playing the rugby of his life, and Mervyn said, 'I'm going to step my game up' and he started to play rugby like I've never seen him play before. He was totally outstanding.

"I was captain of the 1977 Lions that went out to New Zealand. Mervyn suffered a brain haemorrhage in 1976 playing [for Swansea] against Pontypool in Cardiff in the semi-finals of the Welsh Cup. Without doubt, he'd have been captain of that '77 tour – and he would have deserved it."

Davies made his Wales debut against Scotland at Murrayfield in 1969, and led Wales to a Five Nations Grand Slam seven years later. He played for London Welsh from 1968, as did several top Wales players during the 1970s golden era, and later joined Swansea, where he completed his playing career.

London Welsh managing director Taylor said: "His record speaks for itself and the legend will rightly live on. But to those of us who counted him as a friend he was much, much more than a great rugby player."