At the weekends he continues to guide Pontypool to win after win in the WRU National Championship, while his day job is also rugby based as the head of rugby at Coleg Gwent. You could say he is trying to find the player to take over his No 10 jersey at Pooler.
Today his side hosts Cardiff & Vale College in Round 6 of the Welsh Schools & Colleges League and knows they will have been on top of their game against a team that knocked over the reigning champions, Coleg Sir Gar, in their last outing. It promises to be the game of the round.
“I’m really enjoying playing at Pontypool, but I want to go down the coaching path. I’ve learned there is no right or wrong way and I’ve taken on board bits from all the coaches I worked with and tried to put that into practice at both Pontypool and Gwent College,” said Jones.
“It’s nice to give something back on the playing side, but I’m 33 now and my legs aren’t as fast as they used to be. I only wish I’d got into coaching at a much younger age because I think it develops you as a player.
“At the Cross Keys campus of Gwent College we are working closely with the community in the Dragons region. Traditionally we have been a great conveyor belt of players for both the Dragons and Wales.
“Tyler Morgan and Harri Heddie are recent products. Arwel Robson is another player who has gone on to play for Wales Under 20 and the Dragons and is a very good talent.
“What we are trying to do is give players the freedom to think for themselves and provide them with the tools to compete. We got to the play-offs two years ago and lost to a very good Cymoedd team.
“What I know is that if this team gives 100% then we can beat anyone. We are trying to instil the right culture into the players and we have recruited well this year.
“The quality of the players is getting better year on year and there is plenty of evidence that the system is working.”
The other academy school in the Dragons region, Newport HS, who have former Wales second row Rob Sidoli in charge, are also at home. They host Llandovery College in a game that will determine which team moves up the table after only one win a piece this season.
Ysgol Glantaf welcome bottom of the table Bridgend College seeking a fifth win to move into second place. Coleg Llandrillo host Neath Port Talbot College in the other fixture.
Gower College notched their first win of the season as they ran in four tries in a 26-12 win over Whitchurch HS at Glamorgan Wanderers.
Two tries in the opening seven minutes, the second a belter from full back Iwan Richards, gave Gower an early 14-0 lead. That was extended to 21 points by the break as they added a third converted try.
But a brilliant break from the base of a scrum on his own 10 metre line by Morgan James gave Whitchurch the chance to hit back immediately after the re-start and his 40 metre break was eventually turned into a try for back row man George Riley.
It was another James break that helped the home side cut the gap even further 10 minutes later when his 30 metre run allowed Emyr Jones to cross in the left corner. The final score came from right wing Bradley Denty for the visitors after Richards had carved an opening up the middle.
Welsh Schools & Colleges League – Round 6
Tuesday, 17 October
Whitchurch HS 12, Gower College 26
Wednesday, 18 October
Coleg Gwent v Cardiff & Vale College
Coleg Llandrillo v Neath Port Talbot College
Newport HS v Llandovery College
Ysgol Glantaf v Bridgend College
Wednesday Teams
Coleg Gwent v Cardiff & Vale College
Coleg Gwent: TBC
CAVC: Tony Lamerton; Evan Williams, Odin Pronk, Jac Roberts, Harrison Ashby; Jake Beetham, Josh Nolan; Luc Williamson, Owen Harvey, Connor Brooks, Cameron Roy, Anthony Cox, Aron Churchill, James Bartlett (captain), Reuben Williams
Reps: Dylan Nelson, Cavel Sinclair, Max Lucas, / Barney Langton, Trent Jones, Ellis Reed, Ioan Lewis, Ioan Williams, Sean Maher
Coleg Llandrillo v Neath Port Talbot College
Llandrillo: Sam Earl-Jones; Peter Jones, Rhys Henderson, Mathew Buchanan, Jac McGuffie; Conor Henderson, Andrew Mcminimee; Will Sanderson, Dillon Edwards, Shaun Thomas (captain), Jake Bamber, Oscar Crowe, Brenig Hughes, Carwyn Owen, Liam Davies
Reps: Tomos Walker, Guto Davies, Ioan Evans, James Andrew, Owen Randall, Ben Williams, Pedr Jones, Kieron Roberts
NPTC: Dewi Cross; Frankie Jones, Bradley Roderick, Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler, Kyle Jones; Luke Scully, Iwan Temlett; Callum Evans, Garin Lloyd, Jay Richards, Ben Heywood, Geraint Powell, Rhys Thomas, Will Pope, Iwan Shenton
Reps: Scott Mahoney, Jae Key, Jake Woodward, Michael Grange, Alex Morris, Jozeph Humphries, Jack Keenan
Newport HS v Llandovery College
Newport HS: TBC
Llandovery Coll: Deiniol Jones; Sean Collins, Rhodri Davies, Tom Sandford, Toby Baldwin; Jack Evans, Jordan Evans; Ollie Robb, Cam Evans, Harri O’Connor, Harry Olding, Cian Ireland, Olly White, Rhodri Bullock (captain), Dylan Jones
Reps: Dan Davies, Scott Rees, Liam Wheeler, Ynyr Lloyd-Jones, Luca Liebenberg, Jacques Kinnison
Ysgol Glantaf v Bridgend College
Glantaf: Ioan Davies; Iwan Burrows, Jay Jones, Craig Miller, Tomi Owens; Jake Hillman, Aled Evans; Adam Conway, Jake O’Shea, Cai Davies, Dylan Maidment, Teddy Williams, Tom Callow, Rhys Morgans, Gryuffyd Roberts
Reps: Matthew Lincoln, Dan Thomas, Cadan Manley, Johan Hoogendoorn, Ffinli Barber, Casey Davies, George Bruce
Bridgend College: Caine Woolerton; Levi Hallett, Tom Bending, Josh Sands, Cameron Ellis; Evan Thomas, Brandon Mullen; Curtis-Lee Whitford, Iestyn Davies, Ethan Longley, Garin Standing, Ryan Morgan, Travis Huntley, Brandon Huntley (captain), Morgan Strong
Reps: Scott Ryall, Dayton Owen, Owain Johns, Bowen Davies, Joe Davies, Teifion Thomas, Dafydd Forward
