Robert Jones (rugby player)
Encyclopedia
Robert Nicholas Jones is a Welsh rugby union
coach and former player. He was capped 54 times for Wales during his career, at that time a record. He along with Gareth Edwards
, Rob Howley
, Dwayne Peel
and Mike Phillips
are the only scrum halves to have achieved 50 caps or more for Wales.
Jones attracted widespread admiration during his playing career for his invention and the quality of his passing, which was often referred to by pundits as the best in the world. In addition the accuracy of his box-kicking from the base of the scrum or line-out was a potent weapon, used to best effect during Wales' 1989 victory over England at Cardiff Arms Park, and the subsequent Lions tour to Australia. His attractive style of play earned him many invitations to play for the Barbarians in addition to his club and international selections.
He made his debut for Swansea RFC as a schoolboy and went on to play 286 games between 1983 and 2001/02, scoring 50 tries, captaining them in 1989/90 and 1990/91.
He formed a notable partnership for Wales with the outside-half Jonathan Davies before the latter's move to rugby league. Jones and Davies were important members of the Welsh team which won the Triple Crown in 1988. One of the most memorable tries of that championship came in the game against Scotland when Jones supplied Davies with a long reverse pass, the latter then kicking ahead and beating his Scottish marker for pace to the goal line. Later in the same game he sent out two high quality passes to Davies under extreme pressure, enabling Davies to score drop goals on both occasions, and winning Wales the match.
In 1989 Jones was part of the victorious British and Irish Lions
tour to Australia, enjoying some memorable confrontations with the Wallabies' scrum half Nick Farr-Jones
. In 1993 he toured New Zealand with the British Lions.
Jones also played for Western Province in South Africa during the 1994 Currie Cup tournament, forming a memorable partnership with South African fly-half Joel Stransky
. He also played for English club Bristol Rugby
, captaining them in 1997/98.
Jones was succeeded at scrum-half for Wales by Rupert Moon
, a move which attracted some controversy. Few would disagree that Jones was the more technically accomplished scrum-half. However, he was often playing behind a weak Welsh pack at the time and Moon was brought in because of his more physical attributes rather than superior scrum-half techniques.
Jones retired from international rugby after the 1995 World Cup in South Africa, and from all rugby in 2001.
Since retiring, Jones can often be heard on BBC radio as a rugby pundit, and is an assistant coach at the Llanelli Scarlets.
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...
coach and former player. He was capped 54 times for Wales during his career, at that time a record. He along with Gareth Edwards
Gareth Edwards
Gareth Owen Edwards CBE is a former Welsh rugby union footballer who played scrum-half and has been described by the BBC as "arguably the greatest player ever to don a Welsh jersey"....
, Rob Howley
Rob Howley
Robert Howley is a former Welsh rugby union footballer. He was considered one of the greatest ever scrum-halves and gained 59 caps for Wales, 22 of them as captain.Howley made his Wales debut in February 1996...
, Dwayne Peel
Dwayne Peel
Dwayne John Peel is a Welsh rugby union player who plays for Sale Sharks and Wales. He is the most capped scrum-half for the Wales national rugby union team....
and Mike Phillips
Mike Phillips
Mike Phillips may refer to:* Mike Phillips * Mike Phillips * Mike Phillips * Mike Phillips , Montana State Representative...
are the only scrum halves to have achieved 50 caps or more for Wales.
Jones attracted widespread admiration during his playing career for his invention and the quality of his passing, which was often referred to by pundits as the best in the world. In addition the accuracy of his box-kicking from the base of the scrum or line-out was a potent weapon, used to best effect during Wales' 1989 victory over England at Cardiff Arms Park, and the subsequent Lions tour to Australia. His attractive style of play earned him many invitations to play for the Barbarians in addition to his club and international selections.
He made his debut for Swansea RFC as a schoolboy and went on to play 286 games between 1983 and 2001/02, scoring 50 tries, captaining them in 1989/90 and 1990/91.
He formed a notable partnership for Wales with the outside-half Jonathan Davies before the latter's move to rugby league. Jones and Davies were important members of the Welsh team which won the Triple Crown in 1988. One of the most memorable tries of that championship came in the game against Scotland when Jones supplied Davies with a long reverse pass, the latter then kicking ahead and beating his Scottish marker for pace to the goal line. Later in the same game he sent out two high quality passes to Davies under extreme pressure, enabling Davies to score drop goals on both occasions, and winning Wales the match.
In 1989 Jones was part of the victorious British and Irish Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
tour to Australia, enjoying some memorable confrontations with the Wallabies' scrum half Nick Farr-Jones
Nick Farr-Jones
Nicholas Campbell Farr-Jones is a former Australian rugby union footballer. His position was scrum-half. He attended Newington College and St Andrew's College within the University of Sydney...
. In 1993 he toured New Zealand with the British Lions.
Jones also played for Western Province in South Africa during the 1994 Currie Cup tournament, forming a memorable partnership with South African fly-half Joel Stransky
Joel Stransky
Joel Theodore Stransky is a former South African rugby union rugby player, most notable for scoring all of South Africa's points, including the famous dramatic winning drop goal, against New Zealand in the 1995 Rugby World Cup final. He played as a fly-half.-Early life:Stransky was born in...
. He also played for English club Bristol Rugby
Bristol Rugby
Bristol Rugby is a rugby union club based in Bristol, England. The club currently plays in the RFU Championship and competes in the British and Irish Cup. They rely in large part on the many junior rugby clubs in the region, particularly those from 'the Combination'...
, captaining them in 1997/98.
Jones was succeeded at scrum-half for Wales by Rupert Moon
Rupert Moon
Rupert Henry St. John Barker Moon is a former international rugby union player. He was born in England, but played club rugby for Welsh clubs Abertillery and Neath; he is, however, most associated with Llanelli. He played international rugby for Wales, winning 24 caps.-Personal career:Moon was...
, a move which attracted some controversy. Few would disagree that Jones was the more technically accomplished scrum-half. However, he was often playing behind a weak Welsh pack at the time and Moon was brought in because of his more physical attributes rather than superior scrum-half techniques.
Jones retired from international rugby after the 1995 World Cup in South Africa, and from all rugby in 2001.
Since retiring, Jones can often be heard on BBC radio as a rugby pundit, and is an assistant coach at the Llanelli Scarlets.