This evening, he makes his second consecutive start for Wales, one of only four players to begin both last weekends’ victory over Argentina and tonight’s meeting with Tonga.
It’s been a meteoric rise for the 21-year-old, who made his Welsh debut against the Barbarians in June 2012. Going from semi-professional rugby to the international game in less than a month is an impressive feat by anyone’s standards. But when you realise Jones’ transfer to tighthead prop has only taken place over the last few years, his progress becomes doubly impressive.
Originally a loosehead, Jones has shifted to the other side of the scrum and worked hard on his game, winning a place on Wales’ tour to Japan last June. This season, he has played mainly for Llanelli in the Premiership, with his regional head coach Simon Easterby boasting a number of tighthead options at Parc y Scarlets. But when Wales and British & Irish Lions prop Adam Jones suffered a calf injury against South Africa, Jones got the call to train with Warren Gatland’s squad.
He was soon selected and more than held his own in the number three jersey against the Pumas.
“It’s a massive step up, Argentina were a big test but I thought it went pretty well,” said Jones.
“It’s a relatively new position to me so I’ve just been trying new techniques and it seems like it’s starting to come together now. We’ve done a lot of work with the Scarlets and it’s a case of just learning really.
“Loosehead is a lot easier for me personally, especially in the scrum. You don’t have half the pressure as you’re only going up against the tighthead. As a tighthead, you’re right in the middle and you have to keep up the pressure – that’s why it’s so important to have a good, solid tighthead.
“You’re always learning and you’ll never be perfect but it’s about picking up little pointers here and there and hopefully I’ll keep getting better.”
A relatively new member to the Welsh squad, Jones has found a common bond with Dan Lydiate – their agricultural background. Raised on a farm near Machynlleth in mid Wales, Jones shares a similar story to Racing Metro man Lydiate, who also enjoys life in the countryside.
“I don’t really help out on the farm at the moment but I used to do a lot when I was younger until I moved to play rugby,” said Jones.
“We were a dairy farm and had sheep so there was shearing in the summer and getting the lambs in in the winter.
“When you’re playing rugby and you miss a tackle, someone else might make it but when you’re farming and you let the calf go, you have to catch it again and it’s twice as hard. You’ve got to make sure you hold on to them.
“I used to look up to my older brothers and we played rugby together – we had a pitch near the farm and they toughened me up.
“Dan and I have had a good chat about a few things – he’s got a good song to sing when we’re in the cryotherapy chamber about his Honda 50!”
Jones starts for Wales again this evening in a much changed side, head coach Warren Gatland bringing in 11 new faces to face the Tongans. Wales Under 20 graduates Hallam Amos, Rhodri Williams and Jordan Williams look set to win their first caps with Amos starting on the left wing and the two Williams’ among the replacements.
In the front row, Jones is joined by Paul James and Ken Owens with Luke Charteris, Ian Evans, Andrew Coombs and Ryan Jones all coming into the pack. On his quick personal development, Jones added: “Things have been going well and we’ve been scrummaging against good opposition like Ryan Bevington and Paul James. You learn from them and have to pick up everything you can.
“When I first came into training, Adam Jones was giving me tips and bits to improve on. He is obviously one of the best scrummagers in the world – he’s really helpful and has a lot of knowledge about the scrum.”
At his current rate of progression, farmer’s son Jones may one day emulate the success of the man currently showing him the ropes – tonight’s game the latest step on his career ladder.
