Stephen Jones (rugby player)

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Stephen Jones
Date of birth 1977-12-08
Place of birth Aberystwyth
Height 1.85 m
Weight 89 kg
Rugby union career
Position fly-half
Professional clubs
1996-2003
2003-2004
2004-2006
2006-		 Llanelli RFC
Llanelli Scarlets
ASM Clermont Auvergne
Llanelli Scarlets
correct as of 1st November 2006.
National team(s) Caps (points)
1998- Wales 48 (425)
correct as of .

Stephen Michael Jones (born 8 December 1977 in Aberystwyth) is a Welsh rugby union footballer who plays at fly-half for Llanelli Scarlets and Wales. He has also played at Inside centre on various occasions.

[edit] Career

Jones joined Llanelli RFC in 1996, staying there through the 2003-04 season. He played his last Welsh club season for the Llanelli Scarlets, the Llanelli side in the new Welsh regional setup. In his Welsh top-level career, he made more than 200 appearances and scored almost 2,000 points. In 2004, he joined Clermont Auvergne, formerly known as Montferrand. After two years at Clermont he returned to play for the Scarlets in 2006. Jones made his international debut for Wales in 1998 against South Africa. He is the second highest points scorer for Wales.

In 2005 Jones was selected for the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand. Although Jones was the on-form fly-half, the Head Coach, Sir Clive Woodward selected the barely match fit Jonny Wilkinson ahead of him. Many people in the Rugby world saw this as the wrong decision and many believed that Jonny Wilkinson should not even tour, let alone play, as at the time he had only recently recovered from a serious injury.

In October of 2006 head coach Gareth Jenkins named Jones as captain to lead Wales through to the 2007 World Cup. On his appointment of Jones, Jenkins said "Stephen has all the attributes to make a magnificent captain of his country. He has the respect and regard of his players, leadership qualities that are evident for all to see and the talent and ability to lead from the front at game time".[1]

During the 2007 Six Nations Championship, Jones looked extremely lackadaisical, and was frequently caught out by his poor decision-making as captain. This, coupled with the fact that he has not yet won a Test match as captain of Wales, led to members of the Welsh camp giving him the moniker of "Captain Crap".

While regarded as one of the best players in the world of his position, Jones has been criticised for his erratic kicking and relatively short kicking range.

[edit] External link

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