Dafydd Jones
Encyclopedia
Dafydd Jones is a retired Welsh
rugby union
footballer, who played in the back row for the Llanelli Scarlets
in the Magners League
. He has also played for Wales
. He made 104 appearances for the Scarlets scoring 45 points (nine tries).
Jones was a product of Llanelli's youth system, and went onto play for Wales Development as well as the Sevens and 'A' teams. He made his Test debut for Wales on 9 November 2002 against Fiji
at the Millennium Stadium
; Wales won the match 58–14. He was then capped against Canada
and the All Blacks
. After competing in the 2003 Six Nations Championship
, he was capped against the All Blacks and England
, before he was included in the Welsh squad for the 2003 Rugby World Cup
. He played in five matches during the tournament, scoring a try
in the match against Italy
He played in the 2004 Six Nations Championship
, as well as being capped twice in June, and then another four times in November, scoring a try against Romania
. He played against England in the 2005 Six Nations Championship
, which Wales would go onto win.
Jones suffered a shoulder injury, after coming off of the bench in Wales's 19–12 defeat by New Zealand on 7 November 2009. After undergoing two operations, Jones retired from all forms of rugby on 4 January 2011, after failing to fully recover. Jones will continue his association with the Scarletts for at least six months by undertaking various roles within the region, including assisting with the Academy, working within the community department to help inspire young players, and aid sponsor relationships.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
footballer, who played in the back row for the Llanelli Scarlets
Llanelli Scarlets
The Scarlets are one of the four professional Welsh regional rugby union teams. Based in Llanelli, south-west Wales the team play at the Parc y Scarlets stadium. They play in the RaboDirect Pro12, as well as competing in the LV= Cup and the Heineken Cup...
in the Magners League
Celtic League (rugby union)
The Celtic League is an annual rugby union competition involving professional sides from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
. He has also played for Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
. He made 104 appearances for the Scarlets scoring 45 points (nine tries).
Jones was a product of Llanelli's youth system, and went onto play for Wales Development as well as the Sevens and 'A' teams. He made his Test debut for Wales on 9 November 2002 against Fiji
Fiji national rugby union team
The Fiji national rugby union team is a member of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance formerly along with Samoa and Tonga. In 2009, Samoa announced their departure from the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance, leaving just Fiji and Tonga. Fiji are ranked sixteenth in the world by the IRB as of 26...
at the Millennium Stadium
Millennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage...
; Wales won the match 58–14. He was then capped against Canada
Canada national rugby union team
The Canada national rugby union team represents Canada in international rugby union. They are governed by Rugby Canada, and play in red and black. Canada is classified by the International Rugby Board as a tier two rugby nation. There are ten tier one nations, and seven tier two nations, the...
and the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
. After competing in the 2003 Six Nations Championship
2003 Six Nations Championship
The 2003 Six Nations Championship was the fourth series of the Six Nations Championship. Including the previous incarnations as the Home Nations and Five Nations, this was the hundred-and-ninth series of the northern hemisphere rugby union championship...
, he was capped against the All Blacks and England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
, before he was included in the Welsh squad for the 2003 Rugby World Cup
2003 Rugby World Cup
The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth Rugby World Cup and was won by England. Originally planned to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, all games were shifted to Australia following a contractual dispute over ground signage rights between the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Rugby World...
. He played in five matches during the tournament, scoring a try
Try
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
in the match against Italy
Italy national rugby union team
The Italy national rugby union team represent the nation of Italy in the sport of rugby union. The team is also known as the Azzurri . Italy have been playing international rugby since the late 1920s, and since 2000 compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland,...
He played in the 2004 Six Nations Championship
2004 Six Nations Championship
The 2004 Six Nations Championship was the fifth series of the rugby union Six Nations Championship to be held since the competition expanded in 2000 to include Italy. Including the previous incarnations as the Home Nations and Five Nations, this was the hundred-and-tenth series of the northern...
, as well as being capped twice in June, and then another four times in November, scoring a try against Romania
Romania national rugby union team
The Romania national rugby union team , nicknamed The Oaks , is the representative side of Romania in rugby union. Long considered one of the stronger European teams outside the Six Nations, they have participated in all six Rugby World Cups, and currently compete in the first division of the...
. He played against England in the 2005 Six Nations Championship
2005 Six Nations Championship
The 2005 RBS 6 Nations Championship was the sixth series of the Six Nations Championship to be held since the competition expanded in 2000 to include Italy...
, which Wales would go onto win.
Jones suffered a shoulder injury, after coming off of the bench in Wales's 19–12 defeat by New Zealand on 7 November 2009. After undergoing two operations, Jones retired from all forms of rugby on 4 January 2011, after failing to fully recover. Jones will continue his association with the Scarletts for at least six months by undertaking various roles within the region, including assisting with the Academy, working within the community department to help inspire young players, and aid sponsor relationships.