Rising stars keep up with the Joneses

The Ospreys and Wales star was one of the surprise choices for last summer’s tour to Argentina, but he took his opportunity and has developed into one of the first names on Gareth Jenkins’s team sheet in less than 12 months.

Having learned his trade with Swansea last season, he graduated into the Ospreys set-up and was one of three Principality Premiership products to make the trip to South America.

James Hook and Richard Hibbard are currently on tour with Wales in Australia, but Jones was given the chance to stay at home and build himself up for the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

It means that on Thursday night he will be able to attend the annual Principality Premiership Presentation night at the Millennium Stadium and pass on his award to another star of the future.

“The Principality Premiership simply gets better season after season and the 2006/07 campaign was the most keenly contested since the Premiership began in 2003,” said WRU Group Chief Executive Roger Lewis.

“One thing that hasn’t changed, however, is the name on the trophy. Neath made it three titles in a row as they came from behind in the final month to pip Ebbw Vale to the top prize.

“But whereas the Welsh All Blacks had enjoyed a nine point cushion in 2005 and an even more impressive buffer zone of 15 points in 2006, they scraped home with only two points to spare over the Steelmen and had two other teams within one win of their title clinching 53 point tally.

“Last year Gareth Jenkins was able to blood a number of Premiership players on his summer tour to Argentina. James Hook and Richard Hibbard are with him again this year in Australia, while Alun Wyn Jones was left behind to prepare for the Rugby World Cup.

“But the Premiership is still well represented in Australia with Tom James and Jamie Corsi both waiting to follow in the footsteps of last season’s top talent. The Premiership is supposed to be the breeding ground for the professional tier in our game and it is fulfilling all its obligations on that front.”

Last year’s Player of the Year award went to Bedwas centre Phil Dolman who has since graduated – via the WRU Dragons Academy –  into the senior Dragons side and has regularly featured in Magners League and European fixtures. Dolman too will be on hand on Thursday to hand over the Player of the Year trophy to this year’s winner, along with Bridgend’s Chris Stephens who will do the honours for the Coach of the Year award.
 

There will be five Principality Building Society awards up for grabs on Thursday night:
BEST NEWCOMER
COACH OF THE YEAR
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
SERVICES TO RUGBY
FAIR PLAY AWARD
 
Nominations from the Premiership clubs and WRU high performance staff have produced short lists for the following awards:
 
PRINCIPALITY BUILDING SOCIETY PREMIERSHIP BEST NEWCOMER
 
TOM JAMES burst onto the Premiership scene this season after moving from his home town club of Merthyr to Cardiff. Athletic’s loss proved to be rugby’s gain as the former Welsh junior 1500 metre international became an instant hit in blue and black. He was voted Player of the Tournament as Cardiff won the Selkirk Centenary Sevens before the season started and he grabbed 11 tries in the Premiership – earning an early season Player of the Month award. More tries would surely have flowed had he not been snapped up by Cardiff Blues to play in both the Heineken Cup and the Magners League. He played for the Wales U20 side and Wales Sevens before capping an incredible year with a late call-up to the Wales squad currently preparing for the second Test in Australia.

JASON TOVEY became Newport’s youngest Premiership player and scorer when he made his debut at the start of the season when still only 18. Strong and versatile, he played at centre and fullback for the Black and Ambers and scored six tries in 15 games. Already capped by Wales at U16, U18 and U19 levels, he has a bright future ahead of him. A Dragons Academy member, he played for Wales U18 at fullback and went as a replacement to the IRB U19 World Championships in April.

SAM WARBURTON is currently taking his A levels at Whitchurch High School, yet was voted the Principality Player of the Month for January after helping the Wanderers beat Bridgend, Bedwas and Maesteg. The 18-year-old was man of the match in all three games. A member of the WRU Blues Academy with outstanding results in fitness and speed, he captained Wales at the IRB U19 World Championships in Belfast in the spring, leading his side to a fourth place finish. A No.8 and flanker who is a commanding presence at the line-out and in the loose, Sam has a big future ahead of him.

PRINCIPALITY BUILDING SOCIETY COACH OF THE YEAR

ALEX CODLING led Ebbw Vale to second place in the Premiership, their highest finish in the four years of the competition. For long periods of the season the Steelmen were the team to catch and they lost only two and drew one of their 13 games at Eugene Cross Park. As an ex-England second row he developed a pack that was the match of any in the league and one more win would have earned them the title. Alex was voted Clubman of the Year at Ebbw Vale – a fitting tribute after a season of huge improvement at the club. He has returned to a teaching post in London and will act as forwards coach at London Welsh next season.

SIMON KING is nominated for the second season in a row having led Pontypridd to fourth place in the Premiership. The Wales U18 coach who led Ponty to Cup glory last season developed a side full of combative spirit at forward and free-flowing endeavour behind the scrum. Pontypridd lost only three games at home in the league, including defeats against Neath and Newport, but were able to win at Rodney Parade. Simon is on his way to Aberavon next season after three years at Sardis Road.

IESTYN THOMAS masterminded one of the victories of the season when Llandovery became the first non-South Wales sides to win the Konica Minolta Cup. That famous victory over Cardiff at the Millennium Stadium was the highlight of Thomas’s 20 year association with the Drovers. A former Harlequins, London Welsh, Carmarthen and Llandovery College coach, he has developed a wealth of local talent and now has a top trophy as testament to his efforts. His side’s league form left a bit to be desired, although six of their defeats were by one score or less and they beat Pontypridd away and Newport at home.

PRINCIPALITY BUILDING SOCIETY PLAYER OF THE YEAR

JOHN BOWD was the Principality Player of the Month in November and was at the heart of the Ebbw Vale forward effort that earned them their highest finishing position in the league. A former Wales Youth centre, his transfer to the back row has added pace and panache to the forwards. Consistently one of the best players on the field whenever he played, he missed only one league game and captained the side three times.

DAFYDD LOCKYER scored 11 tries for Pontypridd and was a constant menace in the midfield throughout the season. Quick and strong, he always made ground and will leave a big hole to fill when he switches to Neath next season. A former Wales U21 cap, he was previously a member of the Blues Academy.

MORGAN STODDARD picked up the Principality Player of the Month Award for December before being headhunted for the Scarlets’ regional cause for the remainder of the season. He played nine times or the Regional team, in both Heineken Cup and Magners League, and stood out with his pace and adventure. Scored tries for the Llanelli team as well and is being tipped for big things in the future.

A collection will be held on Thursday night towards Bala RFC’s appeal in aid of Bryan Davies, the club stalwart who was paralysed at the end of the season in his final match for the club.