Duncan Jones (rugby player)

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Duncan Jones (born 18 September 1978 in Neath) is a Welsh rugby union player who plays for the Ospreys regional side and the national team.

He was educated at Cymmer Afan School and Neath Sixth Form College. He has represented Wales at every level from Schools up to the national side, including the Grand Slam winning U21 side of 1999. He featured in the 2003 World Cup squad, breaking his ankle in the Italian game. He also missed out on the 2005 Grand Slam due to an injury to his thumb. He had appeared 53 times for his club, the Ospreys, scoring 2 tries, and 28 times for Wales by the end of August 2006.

During the summer tour of Argentina he was selected by new coach Gareth Jenkins to captain the side, a recognition of his acknowledged leadership skills at club level. He is at the time of writing one of the candidates for the captaincy in the Autumn internationals and for the forthcoming Six Nations, along with Gareth Thomas, newly returned from injury, and Stephen Jones.

Instantly recognizeable from his blond curly mane, he and Adam Jones make up the Ospreys' and Wales' prop partnership known as the Hair Bears. Strengths of his game are speed and mobility rare in front-row forwards combined with ball-handling skills which would not disgrace a back. A good ball-carrier going forward, he is also a reliable and hard-working defensive tackler and a solid scrummager. He is likely to be in the picture for Wales and the Ospreys for some time to come.

[edit] External links

• Duncan Jones on WRU.co.uk