Neath RFC is heartbroken to share the devastating news of the passing of our former No.8 forward, Mark Jones. Our entire club community is deeply affected, and our thoughts and prayers are with Mark’s family and friends during this incredibly difficult time.
Neath’s former team secretary David Shaw recalls going to Tredegar to collect Mark for his first training-session and says that he made a special impression immediately. Certainly, from the time that Mark Jones first stepped onto The Gnoll as a raw 20 year old in a 20-10 win over Abertillery on September 7, 1985, home supporters and away sat up and wondered who this man was.
For Mark was a real force of nature who cut an imposing figure and, such was the sheer dynamism, explosiveness, force and focus that he brought to every game, everybody around him felt that he was indestructible.
It was a quality which translated itself to the rest of the team … and the Neath teams of his day very nearly were indestructible.
Mark was one of several Neath players with the edge to ‘make a difference’ and the All Blacks, under the coaching direction of Ron Waldron and Glen Ball guided by Brian Thomas and team secretary David Shaw, were fast developing a style of ‘total rugby’ employing fit, fast and mobile forwards who were as try-hungry as the backs in an all-attacking, 15-man force.
The team won Welsh championships in 1986/87, 1988/89, 1989/90 and 1990/91 and the Cup in 1988/89 and 1989/90. Some called it ‘uncompromising’; it was certainly ‘all-consuming’.
Neath RFC set world records which will probably stand for ever for tries (345 – worth only 4 points then) and points (1,917) in 1988/89. Mark scored 25 of them to break the Club’s forward record previously held by fellow back-rowers Dave Morris and Mike Thomas – and that included a personal best of 4 tries against Bridgend.
And, of course, there was the game against New Zealand who were given the sternest test of their tour to Wales in 1989 and attested to the fact that Neath were the one side to cause the World Champions much concern.
Mark was at the very heart of all Neath’s triumphs and naturally he caught the eye of the Wales selectors and he won the first of 15 caps against Scotland in 1987 and scored a try on his debut.
At the start of the 1990/91 season he took the plunge and joined Hull RL and later Warrington RL and he gained international honours for both Wales and Great Britain.
However, when rugby union turned professional he returned to Wales with Ebbw Vale as Neath were impecunious at the time and also played for Pontypool.
In 2003/04 when the game went regional, Mark came back to The Gnoll to ‘look after’ the young players emerging and it was fitting that he was able to round off his Neath career by again lifting the WRU Cup against Caerphilly and, after a short spell coaching at Aberavon and locally, his life’s journey took him to Abu Dhabi.
Like many top players Mark had his story told and his ‘Fighting to Speak’ will have amused – and moved – the hardest of rugby hearts.
Mark Jones was an outstanding rugby player, one of Neath all-time greats and a popular man who always had time to speak to people too. Everyone at Neath RFC sends their condolences to Mark’s family at this difficult time. He will be deeply missed by his many friends and colleagues at Neath RFC and beyond. MP