Ken Jones (rugby union, nacido en 1921)

Welsh sprinter and rugby union player

Para el jugador internacional de rugby galés de la década de 1960, véase Ken Jones (rugby union, nacido en 1941) .

Ken Jones
OBE

Jones en 1950
Informacion personal
Nombre de nacimiento	Kenneth Jeffrey Jones
Nació	(1921-12-30)30 de diciembre de 1921 Blaenavon , Gales
Fallecido	18 de abril de 2006 (2006-04-18)(84 años) Newport , Gales
Educación	Escuela secundaria de West Monmouth
alma mater	Colegio de formación de St. Paul, Cheltenham Loughborough College
Ocupación	Profesor
Altura	5 pies 11 pulg (1,80 m)
Peso	12 st 4 libras (172 libras; 78 kg)
Deporte
Deporte	Atletismo
Eventos)	Sprint, salto de longitud
Club	Newport Athletic Club
Logros y títulos
Mejor (s) personal (es)	100 m - 10,6 (1948) [1]
Récord de medallas Atletismo masculino Representando a Gran Bretaña  Juegos olímpicos 1948 Londres 4 × 100 m Campeonatos europeos 1954 Berna 4 × 100 m Representando a Gales  Juegos del Imperio Británico y la Commonwealth Vancouver 1954 220 yardas
Rugby player Carrera de rugby
Carrera de rugby union
Puesto (s) Ala Carrera senior Años Equipo Aplicaciones (Puntos) 1945-1946 1945-1946 1946-1958 1948-1949 Talywain Blaenavon Pontypool Newport Leicester 294 1 (443) (0) Equipo (s) nacional (es) Años Equipo Aplicaciones (Puntos) 1947-1957 1949-1956 1950 Gales Bárbaros Leones británicos 44 5 3 (51) (12) (6)

Kenneth Jeffrey Jones OBE (30 de diciembre de 1921 - 18 de abril de 2006) fue un velocista galés y un futbolista de la unión internacional de rugby de Gales que batió récords . Jugó tanto para Gales como para las Islas Británicas . Es mejor conocido en Gales por su contribución al rugby galés, pero más notablemente por su try ganador contra los All Blacks en 1953.

Vida temprana

Jones nació en Blaenavon , Monmouthshire el 30 de diciembre de 1921 ^[2] y cuando era joven asistió a West Monmouth Grammar School en Pontypool . Allí, bajo la dirección de Gilbert Garnett, desarrolló una habilidad en el rugby union, representando a su escuela y durante las vacaciones jugaba para Talywain . ^[3] Durante la temporada 1939-1940, fue seleccionado para la Welsh Secondary School XV, su primera gorra de Gales y más tarde ese año asistió a St. Paul's Training College en Cheltenham . Jones sirvió a su país hacia el final de la Segunda Guerra Mundial y estuvo destinado en la India con la Royal Air Force.. Fue durante el servicio que Jones desarrolló su carrera de velocidad. ^[3]

Carrera de pista y campo

Jones era muy conocido como velocista. Antes de competir en los Juegos Olímpicos de Verano de 1948 ya era campeón de Gales y de la Asociación Atlética Amateur ^[4] y ganó la medalla de plata en los Juegos Olímpicos de 1948 en el relevo de 4 × 100 metros, junto con sus compañeros Jack Archer , John Gregory y Alastair McCorquodale . En 1954 corrió en los Juegos del Imperio Británico y la Commonwealth en Vancouver y ganó una medalla de bronce en el sprint de 220 yardas. En el mismo año se le otorgó el honor de capitanear al equipo británico en el Campeonato de Europa en Berna.. Fue en estos campeonatos que Jones volvió a formar parte de un equipo de medalla de plata de relevos de 100 metros. En esta ocasión el equipo estuvo formado por Jones, George Ellis , Kenneth Box y Brian Shenton , perdiendo en la final ante Hungría. ^[1]

Club de rugby

Después de regresar de la guerra, Jones buscó clubes de rugby a los que unirse. Durante el final de la temporada 1945-46 Jones logró jugar algunos juegos tanto para Blaenavon como para Pontypool , y cuando se abrió la temporada 1946-47 solicitó una prueba para Newport en Rodney Parade y logró obtener un lugar en el primer XV. . ^[3] Jones pasó el resto de su carrera con Newport, jugando solo un partido para los Leicester Tigers durante la temporada 1948-1949. Jones fue capitán de Newport durante dos temporadas en 1950–51 y 1953–54. Su capitanía durante la temporada 1950-51 fue particularmente memorable cuando Newport ganó el Campeonato de clubes de Gales por primera vez desde 1922-23.

Carrera de rugby internacional galés

1947-1950

Jones fue internacional por primera vez con su país en un partido internacional contra Inglaterra el 18 de enero de 1947 bajo la capitanía de Haydn Tanner . El partido fue el primer partido internacional para ambos países desde el comienzo de la guerra y, como era de esperar, ambos bandos se llenaron de nuevas gorras. Tanner y Howard Davies fueron los únicos jugadores de Gales con alguna experiencia en este nivel, aunque Jones tuvo la ventaja de comenzar con dos de sus compañeros de equipo en Newport, Reg Blackmore y George Parsons. ^[5] Gales perdió el juego y aunque Blackmore y Parsons no volverían a representar a su país, Jones jugaría en los tres juegos restantes del campeonato. En el siguiente partido contra Escocia, Jones devolvió la fe que el seleccionador había depositado en él cuando anotó dos intentos.. Gales se quedó con 22–8 ganadores, la victoria con mayor puntuación contra Escocia desde 1911 . ^[6]

1949 fue un mal año para Gales, y en el Campeonato de ese año , aunque anotó un try en el último partido contra Francia, Jones dejó que su ala opuesta entrara para el marcador decisivo. Ese intento relegó a Gales al último lugar de la liga y les dio la cuchara de madera . La siguiente temporada vio un increíble cambio en las fortunas galesas que hizo de Jones la reputación de clase mundial. En el partido inaugural del campeonato, Gales logró una rara victoria sobre Inglaterra en Twickenham y en el siguiente partido contra Escocia, Jones anotó un try en otra victoria. El 11 de marzo en Ravenhill , Belfast Jones volvió a estar en la hoja de anotaciones cuando Gales venció a Irlanda para ganar su octava Triple Corona.. Aunque las celebraciones fueron de corta duración cuando un día después, un avión que transportaba jubilosos seguidores de regreso a Gales se estrelló en Llandow , matando a ochenta. Por lo tanto, fue una ocasión sombría cuando Gales se enfrentó a Francia el 25 de marzo en el Cardiff Arms Park. El partido en sí fue un triunfo para Gales, con Jones anotando dos de los cuatro intentos en una línea de puntuación de 21-0. Esta fue la primera vez que Gales ganó un Grand Slam desde 1911.

1951-1953

Much was expected of the Welsh team in the 1951 season after the Grand Slam had been taken the year before, but the resulting championship was made up of mixed performances. Jones scored a try in an emphatic win against England in January, but found himself on the losing team when an unfancied Scotland beat Wales 19–0 at Murrayfield. After a draw against Ireland, Jones scored with a try against France in the last game of the season, but these was the only Welsh points in an 8–3 loss.

The next season saw a resurgent Wales, in which Jones scored against all three home nation teams. The opening game with England turned out to be the championship decider. While Lewis Jones was off the pitch receiving treatment for an injury, England took the numerical advantage scoring two tries through Albert Agar and Ted Woodward. In the second half the Welsh forwards dominated, especially in the line out, and in the resulting pressure Jones scored two tries, one converted by Malcolm Thomas, which gave Wales victory.^[7] The matches against Ireland and Scotland were won without Wales hitting their best form, and the final match against France was won despite the poor Welsh kicking. Jones had now collected his second Grand Slam trophy with Wales, and had played 25 consecutive games for his country.^[8]

The 1953 Five Nations Championship saw another good Welsh run, losing only to eventual champions England. Jones was again picked for all four games, but only managed a single try against Scotland.^[9] 1953 also saw the arrival in Wales of the touring New Zealand team. On 19 December, Wales and the All Blacks met at the Cardiff Arms Park with the New Zealand team so far unbeaten in the tour. Welsh hopes were raised after two New Zealand draws against Swansea and Ulster, and Wales were favourites to win the contest.^[10] The game did not start as was expected, and Wales were chasing the game after New Zealand took an early lead. In the last twenty minutes Wales appeared to raise their game and started playing offensive rugby. Gareth Griffiths returned to the field despite dislocating his shoulder and Clem Thomas moved back into the pack and the Welsh play became more focused. Gwyn Rowlands kicked a penalty to bring the scores level and with five minutes to go Clem Thomas made a dash down the left hand touchline. With his path cut off by the All Black defense, Thomas cross-kicked the ball for Jones to take it on the bounce. Jones rounded Ron Jarden on the inside and scored his most memorable and final try of his Welsh career.^[10] With Rowlands converting the score Wales had beaten New Zealand 13–8.

1954–1957

Jones was again one of the first-choice players in the 1954 Welsh squad, and in a repeat of the previous season Wales lost their opening fixture to England. A last minute try from Chris Winn gave England the victory, but not the Championship after Wales won the final three games of the tournament to lift the Five Nations trophy. Jones played in all four matches, but finished the campaign without a single score to his name, though he did receive the honour of captaining his country for his only time in the game against Scotland. The 1955 Five Nations Championship started on a more positive note for both Wales and Jones; Wales beat England in the opening game while Jones became Wales's most capped player in the same match, playing in his 36th appearance. Although Wales lost the next fixture against Scotland, they would beat Ireland and France to win the tournament for the fourth time in the last six years. Jones again played in all four games, taking him to 39 caps.

The 1956 Championship was a very tight competition with most matches decided by one or two scores. Wales, under the captaincy of Cliff Morgan, played excellent rugby, deserving of the title.^[11] Wales took the Championship title again, but on this occasion losing to Ireland to prevent a Welsh Grand Slam and Triple Crown. Jones again played all four games, and again failed to score a try in any of them, though in the last match of the campaign against France on 24 March, Jones won his 43rd cap. This made him the most capped player in world rugby, beating the record held by Ireland's George Stephenson. The next season, in the opening game against England, Wales ran out for the first time since rugby resumed in 1947 without Ken Jones. Jones was dropped by the selectors breaking his consecutive run of 43 matches. The next match, in a Welsh loss against Scotland, Jones played his very last international game for Wales. Jones was once quoted as saying, 'People ask me often which match I enjoyed most, the truth is I enjoyed them all. It was a marvellous experience playing for Wales.'^[12]

International matches played for Wales

Wales^[13]

•  Australia 1947
•  England 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956
•  France 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956
•  Ireland 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956
•  New Zealand 1953
•  Scotland 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957
•  South Africa 1951

British Lions

Throughout his career, Jones suffered a lack of scoring opportunities, at club and international level. Even when alongside the likes of Welsh midfield star players such as Bleddyn Williams and Cliff Morgan, Jones scored very few tries for a wing of his class. This would change when Jones was selected to play in the 1950 tour of Australia and New Zealand. Selected for 17 of the games, including three of the four tests against New Zealand, Jones scored 17 tries and was chosen as one of the five Players of the Year for the tour.^[14]

Jones's greatest moment in the tour came in the Fourth Test against New Zealand. In this match Jones found himself playing against an equally fast track sprinter in the All Black's Peter Henderson.^[14] During the test, Jones found himself outside fellow Welsh international Lewis Jones, following a break from the Lions' 25 yard line. Henderson was running between the two Joneses, but with Bob Scott closing in on Lewis Jones, he threw a pass over Henderson's head which Ken Jones collected the ball skillfully at shoulder level. With 50 yards to the try line, and with four All Blacks giving chase, Jones showed his Olympic sprinting finesse to just keep ahead of his opponents to score a magnificent^[14] try. Unfortunately for Jones, although he scored one of the tries of his career, he found himself on the losing side. A fact made worse when in the last minute, with the Lions 11–8 down, Jones chased a kick head and looked to score a certain winning try when the ball turned away from him on the bounce, and the chance was lost.

International matches played for the British Lions

•  New Zealand 1950, 1950, 1950

Later life and awards

Jones was a high school teacher for most of his life. From 1948 to 1985, he was also a sports reporter for Welsh newspaper, the Sunday Express, dealing mainly with rugby and athletics.^[15]

In the 1960 Queen's Birthday Honours he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), "For services to Welsh Rugby Football".^[16]

Jones has also been honoured by the sporting and journalist communities. In 1954 he was the inaugural winner of the BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year and was also chosen as the first rugby union inductee into the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame in 1990,^[1] ahead of more well known players such as Gareth Edwards or J.P.R. Williams.

In his late years Jones served as a board member and president of the Newport rugby club, resigning in 1995 in protest of the introduction of professionalism to rugby. After a stroke, he was confined to a wheelchair. He died in 2006, at the age of 84.^[1][17]

Competition record

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Notes
Representing  Great Britain
1948	Olympics	London, England	6th, SF 2	100 m

References

1. Ken Jones. sports-reference.com
2. Smith (1980), pg 334.
3. Thomas (1979), pg 104.
4. Smith (1980), pg 335.
5. Godwin (1984), pg 218.
6. Godwin (1984), pg 219.
7. Godwin (1984), pg 245.
8. Godwin (1984), pg 248.
9. Godwin (1984), pg 252.
10. Smith (1980), pg. 348
11. Godwin (1984), pg 265.
12. Godwin (1984), pg 272.
13. Smith (1980), pg 468.
14. Thomas (1979), pg 105.
15. The Independent Archived 27 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine Obituaries: Ken Jones
16. "No. 42051". The London Gazette. 3 June 1960. pp. 3984–3985.
17. Former Wales wing Ken Jones dies. BBC Sport (19 April 2006)

Bibliography

• Godwin, Terry (1984). The International Rugby Championship 1883–1983. London: Willow Books. ISBN 0-00-218060-X.
• Smith, David; Williams, Gareth (1980). Fields of Praise: The Official History of The Welsh Rugby Union. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. ISBN 0-7083-0766-3.
• Thomas, Wayne (1979). A Century of Welsh Rugby Players. Ansells.

External links

• Ken Jones player profile Scrum.com