Deiniol Jones
Full nameDeiniol Llyr Jones
Birth date18 November 1977 (age 48)
Birth placeCarmarthen, Wales
Height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight18 st 1 lb (110 kg)
SchoolYsgol Gyfun Llandysul
UniversityUniversity of Bath
PositionLock
Youthclubs 1Carmarthen Quins
Years 11997–2000
Clubs 1Bath
Years 22000–2001
Clubs 2Ebbw Vale
Years 32001–?
Clubs 3Bridgend
Years 42003–2004
Clubs 4Celtic Warriors
Years 52004–2011
Clubs 5Cardiff Blues
Apps 592
Points 55
Repyears 12000–2010
Repteam 1Wales
Repcaps 113
Reppoints 10

Deiniol Jones (born 18 November 1977) is a Welsh former professional rugby union player who played as a lock. Born in Carmarthen, he played for the Carmarthen Quins youth team before moving to study chemistry at the University of Bath in 1997. There, he was picked up by English Premiership side Bath RFC, where he played for three years before a loan move back to Wales with Ebbw Vale. In 2001, he made a permanent move to Bridgend, and two years later he was signed by the newly formed, Bridgend-based regional side Celtic Warriors. The Warriors only lasted one year before folding, after which Jones moved to Cardiff Blues.[1]

Jones became the first player to make 100 appearances for the Blues in a match against Connacht in May 2008.[2] He played for the Blues for eight years before his retirement from playing due to a shoulder injury in April 2012, making his last appearance in another game against Connacht in October 2011.

Jones made one appearance for the Barbarians in January 2009, in the official opening match for the Scarlets' new stadium, Parc y Scarlets.[3] The Scarlets won the match 40–24.[4]

Jones made his Wales debut on 11 November 2000 against Samoa.[5]

In July 2012, Jones was appointed the match-day team manager of Cardiff Blues.[6]

Jones is a fluent Welsh speaker.[7]

References

  1. ^ "Carving up the Warriors". BBC Sport. 31 May 2004. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  2. ^ Thomas, Simon (1 May 2008). "It's Blues century for Deiniol". Wales Online. Media Wales. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  3. ^ "Barbarians name strong squad for Scarlets". ESPNscrum. 27 January 2009. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  4. ^ "Scarlets 40-24 Barbarians". BBC Sport. 31 January 2009. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  5. ^ WRU Player profile Archived 26 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "Cardiff Blues appoint Deiniol Jones as team manager". BBC Sport. 23 July 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  7. ^ RWC2015: Lloegr v Cymru (Television production). Wales: S4C. 26 September 2015.