David Phillips Jones
Encyclopedia
David Phillips Jones more commonly known as 'Ponty' Jones (10 December 1881 – 9 January 1936) was a Welsh
international rugby union
wing player who played club rugby for several teams, most notably Pontypool
and London Welsh. He won a single cap for Wales
in 1907.
Jones was a mining surveyor by profession, and was also a classically trained harpist. A keen sportsman, he also played soccer and once had a Welsh amateur trial. During the First World War he joined the British Army and served in the South Wales Borderers. He died of pneumonia in 1936.
and James
were capped for Wales like David, while the youngest brother Edwin played for club team, Pontypool. As the brothers had the common surname of Jones, the brothers were separated by their nicknames. James was more often known as 'Tuan' and David as 'Ponty'.
Jones first played rugby for his home town of Pontymoile, before being selected for first-class rugby club, Newport. He played only 11 games for the Newport senior team before joining the newly reformed Pontypool club, making his debut for the club on 7 December 1901 in a match against Ebbw Vale RFC
. Jones' career at Pontypool was extremely succussful, becoming a leading scorer over several seasons including 172 tries
over his entire career. Such was Jones' scoring record, that the left wing corner pointing to Conway Road at Pontypool's Recreation ground, was nicknamed 'Ponty's Corner'. In the 1904-05 season, Jones scored 49 tries, which included six in the same game against Talywain
in April 1905; a club record that stood for 98 years.
Jones was made captain of Pontypool for three consecutive seasons, from 1904 to 1907; and in 1907 he was awarded his one and only international cap. During the first decade of the 20th century, Wales was going through its First Golden Age of Rugby, and the team was filled with talented back players, competition for international caps was fierce. In the 1907 Home Nations Championship
, Wales had used both Teddy Morgan
and Hopkin Maddock
on the left wing, but when neither were available for the final Welsh encounter of the tournament, Jones was brought into the squad. The game was played on 9 March, with Welsh home advantage at the Cardiff Arms Park
against Ireland. Jones came into a strong three-quarter, and was partnered opposite Johnnie Williams
on the wing, with Pontypool team-mate John Hart Evans
and Wales captain Rhys Gabe
at centre. The Wales team were convincing winners, beating the Irish 29-0. All the points came from the backs with the three-quarters scoring five tries, three from Williams, one from Gabe, and Jones scored an international try on his debut. Despite such a promising start, Jones was replaced the next season by Reggie Gibbs
and never represented Wales again.
Jones continued to represent Pontypool after his international career, and also played county rugby for Monmouthshire
. In the 1908/09 season, he returned to Newport for a short period, scoring 5 tries in 14 appearances. During the 1911-12 season he broke his hip, which ended his rugby playing career.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
international 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...
wing player who played club rugby for several teams, most notably Pontypool
Pontypool RFC
Pontypool Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team based in the town of Pontypool. Pontypool RFC has a long history within Welsh rugby and is one of the most notable clubs, being present at the formation of the Welsh Rugby Union in 1881, but disbanding before the turn of the 19th century...
and London Welsh. He won a single cap 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...
in 1907.
Jones was a mining surveyor by profession, and was also a classically trained harpist. A keen sportsman, he also played soccer and once had a Welsh amateur trial. During the First World War he joined the British Army and served in the South Wales Borderers. He died of pneumonia in 1936.
Rugby career
Jones was one of four rugby playing brothers; JackJack Jones (rugby player)
John "Jack" Phillips Jones was a Welsh international centre who played club rugby for Pontypool Rugby Club and Newport Rugby Football Club. He won 14 caps for Wales and was known as The Prince of Centres.-Rugby career:...
and James
James Phillips Jones
James 'Tuan' Jones was a Welsh international rugby union utility player who played club rugby for several teams, most notably Pontypool and Guy's Hospital...
were capped for Wales like David, while the youngest brother Edwin played for club team, Pontypool. As the brothers had the common surname of Jones, the brothers were separated by their nicknames. James was more often known as 'Tuan' and David as 'Ponty'.
Jones first played rugby for his home town of Pontymoile, before being selected for first-class rugby club, Newport. He played only 11 games for the Newport senior team before joining the newly reformed Pontypool club, making his debut for the club on 7 December 1901 in a match against Ebbw Vale RFC
Ebbw Vale RFC
Ebbw Vale Rugby Football Club is a Welsh Rugby Union Club based in the town of Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent, South Wales. The club currently play in the WRU Division One East and the SWALEC Cup. It also acts as a feeder club for the Newport Gwent Dragons....
. Jones' career at Pontypool was extremely succussful, becoming a leading scorer over several seasons including 172 tries
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...
over his entire career. Such was Jones' scoring record, that the left wing corner pointing to Conway Road at Pontypool's Recreation ground, was nicknamed 'Ponty's Corner'. In the 1904-05 season, Jones scored 49 tries, which included six in the same game against Talywain
Talywain RFC
Talywain Rugby Football Club are a Welsh rugby union club based in Talywain near the town of Pontypool, Wales. The club is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is a feeder club for the Newport Gwent Dragons....
in April 1905; a club record that stood for 98 years.
Jones was made captain of Pontypool for three consecutive seasons, from 1904 to 1907; and in 1907 he was awarded his one and only international cap. During the first decade of the 20th century, Wales was going through its First Golden Age of Rugby, and the team was filled with talented back players, competition for international caps was fierce. In the 1907 Home Nations Championship
1907 Home Nations Championship
The 1907 Home Nations Championship was the twenty-fifth series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 12 January and 16 March...
, Wales had used both Teddy Morgan
Teddy Morgan
Edward "Teddy" Morgan was a Welsh international rugby union player. He was a member of the winning Wales team who beat the 1905 touring All Blacks and is remembered for scoring the winning try...
and Hopkin Maddock
Hopkin Maddock
Lieutenant Hopkin "Hop" Thomas Maddock MC was a Welsh international rugby union wing who played club rugby for Pontycymer and London Welsh and county rugby for both Glamorgan and Middlesex. Maddock played in six international rugby games for Wales scoring a total of six tries...
on the left wing, but when neither were available for the final Welsh encounter of the tournament, Jones was brought into the squad. The game was played on 9 March, with Welsh home advantage at the Cardiff Arms Park
Cardiff Arms Park
Cardiff Arms Park , also known as The Arms Park, is primarily known as a rugby union stadium, but it also has a bowling green, and is situated in the centre of Cardiff, Wales. The Arms Park was host to the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1958, and hosted four games in the 1991 Rugby World...
against Ireland. Jones came into a strong three-quarter, and was partnered opposite Johnnie Williams
Johnnie Williams
Johnnie Williams was a Welsh international wing who played club rugby for Cardiff Rugby Club. A three times Triple Crown winner, out of seventeen appearances for Wales he was on the losing side only twice....
on the wing, with Pontypool team-mate John Hart Evans
John Hart Evans
John 'Jack' Hart Evans was a Welsh international rugby union centre who played club rugby for Pontypool. He won three caps for Wales during 1907.-Rugby career:...
and Wales captain Rhys Gabe
Rhys Gabe
Rhys Thomas "Rusty" Gabe born as Rees Thomas Gape, was a Welsh rugby union player who played club rugby for Llanelli, London Welsh and Cardiff and gained 24 caps for Wales, mainly as a centre.-Rugby career:...
at centre. The Wales team were convincing winners, beating the Irish 29-0. All the points came from the backs with the three-quarters scoring five tries, three from Williams, one from Gabe, and Jones scored an international try on his debut. Despite such a promising start, Jones was replaced the next season by Reggie Gibbs
Reggie Gibbs
Reginald "Reggie" Arthur Gibbs was a Welsh international rugby union wing who played club rugby for Penarth and Cardiff. He was capped 16 times for his country and captained his team on one occasion...
and never represented Wales again.
Jones continued to represent Pontypool after his international career, and also played county rugby for Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire County RFC
Monmouthshire County RFC is a Welsh rugby union club that manages an invitational team, known as Monmouthshire that originally played rugby at county level...
. In the 1908/09 season, he returned to Newport for a short period, scoring 5 tries in 14 appearances. During the 1911-12 season he broke his hip, which ended his rugby playing career.