His first cap for Wales was in 1996 against Australia: he went on to become team captain for a period and toured Australia with the British and Irish Lions in 2001. He remained with Swansea until changes in the Welsh club structure saw him without a contract in the period of the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
Charvis moved briefly to Tarbes in France and then to Newcastle Falcons in England whom he also captained. Charvis's contract with the Falcons was not renewed at the end of the 2005-6 season. He subsequently joined the Newport Gwent Dragons. He made his debut for the club in August in a pre-season friendly against the Cornish Pirates
Wales
Charvis has scored 22 tries for his country, making him the leading try scorer among all Welsh forwards. He is also one of only four forwards to score over 100 international points. He was the second most capped player for Wales and the most capped forward with 94 caps until overtaken by Martyn Williams 13 March 2010. He also featured in the 1999 Rugby World Cup and captained Wales in the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia. In 2000, Charvis was implicated in Grannygate as he had been first capped for Wales in 1996 while apparently ineligible. However, by the time the scandal broke he had completed the required 3 years residency period and no further action was taken. After appearances against England, Scotland, Ireland and Italy in the 2006 Six Nations, Charvis had a spell away from the international scene. However, his form for the Dragons throughout the 2006–2007 season saw him named in Gareth Jenkins's touring squad to Australia in May 2007. He appeared in both Tests and following the tour, Charvis was named in Gareth Jenkins' 41-man preliminary Rugby World Cup 2007 summer training squad. He made the final 30-man squad in August after playing in the Test against England and made substitute appearances in both Invesco PerpetualSummer Series matches against Argentina and France. Charvis made a try-scoring substitute appearance in Wales's opening Pool B match against Canada, and made the starting line-ups for the remaining Pool clashes with Australia, Japan and Fiji. In November 2007 Wales Caretaker Coach Nigel Davies included Charvis in his starting line-up for the inaugural Prince William Cup clash with South Africa. Despite the 34-12 defeat to the reigning world champions Charvis scored his 22nd try for his country in the clash, becoming the world's top forward try-scorer to date.
2008-2010: Player-coach
Charvis was appointed to a player/coach role at Newport Gwent Dragons in July 2008. However, because of injuries amongst the playing squad Charvis returned to the team, and as a result of his excellent form he played a number of matches during the 2008-09 season, but then retired as a player in order to be full-time forwards and defence coach. He parted company with the Dragons in late September 2010.
Post-professional career
After leaving his professional playing days behind Charvis toured with JML Welsh Warriors, a semi-professional rugby union team, to the annual Manila 10s tournament, winning the Cup Division in their inaugural appearance at the tournament. In 2000, Charvis appearing stripped bare as the muscular Atlas with the world on his both shoulders and doing squats for S4C's Chwaraeon/Sport 2000 promotional video. Charvis is also one of eight celebrities chosen to participate in an intense week learning Welsh in an eco-friendly chic campsite in Pembrokeshire, West Wales in the series ' shown on S4C in July 2011. In 2012, Charvis made a cameo appearance as himself in an episode of the UKTV comedy drama Stella. Colin now owns a carpet shop in Horizon Park, Llansamlet, Swansea. It is called Colin Charvis Flooring''' which sells laminate, vinyl, carpets and rugs. He used to be a silent partner in the carpet shop that was previously in York Street but when the managers of that shop left he took over the running of the business
