Tighthead Prop

3.  Adam Jones

 

Jones began his career with Neath before switching to the Ospreys with the regionalisation of Welsh rugby in 2003.  Following several successful seasons at club level, Jones received a call up to the Wales squad in 2003, making his debut as a replacement against England during the 2003 Six Nations.  Jones almost immediately pinned down the No.3 shirt and was selected for Wales' World Cup squad at the end of 2003.  He featured in all of Wales' games at the tournament, starting in the crucial group games against Italy and New Zealand and the quarter final loss to England.  At the time, fears over Jones' fitness led to him only playing the first-half of games, a trend that he emphatically ended as his career developed.

 

Jones continued to hold down the starting tight-head spot through the 2004 Six Nations and autumn Internationals.  In 2005 Jones was a key member of the Welsh Grand Slam winning side, starting all five of Wales' games.  Jones was a solid presence during the 2006 Six Nations.  Jones was selected for his second World Cup in the autumn of 2007.  Jones played in four of Wales' games on their way to the Grand Slam in 2008.  He was selected for the 2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa.  In August 2011 Jones was named in the 30 man squad for the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.  The Welsh team performed admirably reaching the Semi-finals, Jones played a vital role in providing a platform for Wales' exciting backs to score many tries.   To bring his CV up to date he was an  integral member of the triumphant British & Irish Lions side that beat the Wallabies in 2013, adding three more caps to the two he won in South Africa in 2009.