Former Irish Lions and Wales center Ken Jones passed away at 81

Ken Jones, who won six Test caps with the British and Irish Lions in two rounds, has passed away at the age of 81.

Jones center made him Wales He made his debut in 1962 against England at Twickenham after which he was called up only three caps on the Lions’ tour to South Africa in 1966 at the age of 21.

Lions and Wells Jones Center passed away at the age of 81

He earned 14 caps for Wales, played in six Tests in two Lions, took a blue medal in his first year at Oxford and scored an attempt in Cardiff’s win over Wallaby in 1966. After leaving rugby at the age of 27, he worked for the Confederation . British Industry in Wales. He was part of a team responsible for recruiting investment from Japanese companies and helped attract Takiron, the plastics division of Itochu, one of Japan’s largest trading companies, to Wales.

When the Takiron facility debuted in Baidos in 1972, the major news was – the first Japanese company to come to Wales and only the second to start manufacturing in Britain. Ken Jones became its managing director and eventually chairman of the board in the 1970s and 1990s. He was also a member of the Board of Governors of Cardiff University and the University of Wales, as well as Chairman of the Regents for the Museum of Welsh Life, St Fagan and a member of the Board of the National Museum of Wales. Born in Carmarthen, residing in Cross Hands, he attended Gwendraeth Grammar School.

He enjoyed a successful career as a schoolboy, winning 11 international matches at the under-15 and 19-year-olds and losing only once. He was on the Wales Under-15 team that beat southern Scotland and England and then played three years on the high school team, leading the team the last two seasons. After winning eight straight games against Yorkshire Schools, England and France, he lost his last match 3-0 to the French in Cardiff.

Llanelli debut

Ken Jones made his Llanelli debut while still in school and was on the team that won the first Snelling Sevens title in April 1960, while still a teenager. He moved to Cardiff University later that year and joined Llanelli full time at the start of the 1960-1961 season.

Ken Jones made an instant impression and played at No. 10 against the Springboks roving along with Onllwyn Brace at mid-back. The South Africans, who were undefeated until their last confrontation against the barbarians, won 21-0. Within a few years, he would battle the Boks again as part of the 1962 British & Irish Lions group.

He got his first Welsh trial within three months of entering senior rugby and made his Welsh debut at the center against England at Twickenham on January 20, 1962 in a 0-0 tie. He held his place for matches against Scotland and France and then played in a drinking match against the Irish in Dublin which was postponed to the following season due to a smallpox outbreak. By the time the Irish game was played, Jones had toured with the Lions in South Africa, making 13 appearances and scoring nine attempts in 13 matches.

outside tour

He took part in the first three Tests and scored 10 minutes from the time that helped the Lions draw their first international championship in Johannesburg, 3-3. He pushed through the defense and then ran 60 meters to score. Kane returned to South Africa two years later when Wales made her first overseas tour, this time at the end of a 24-3 defeat in Durban. He also toured there with Cardiff in 1967.

After making 140 appearances for Yanelli between 1960-65, including forming a “ruining midfield mix” with Gerald Davis in the 1964-65 season, he went east to Cardiff with former teammate Rob Morgan, Wales winger. Davis soon followed and the two men were reunited for the 1966 winning position against the Wallabies. Jones earned 10 of his 14 caps for Yanelli and four for Cardiff, playing 104 games over five seasons, including a game against the Springboks in 1969.

Lions Tour

He was selected again for the Lions’ second tour in 1966 to Australia and New Zealand, one of 11 Welshmen. It was one of the Lions’ longest runs ever, with players leaving on April 30 and returning home on September 19 after playing 35 games in Australia, New Zealand and Canada. After playing in the two Test victory over the Wallabies, Jones appeared in the first Test in New Zealand, but none of the other three.

His 16 matches boosted his total with the Lions in two rounds to 29. During the Australian portion of the tour, St George’s rugby team called him and invited him to switch symbols. Leeds had already tried to break the bank for him, paying what would have been a world record £12,000 for his services.

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In addition to playing five times for the Barbarians, and spending time in Old Deer Park playing with the London Welsh, he played for Oxford University in the 1963 Varsity game against Cambridge at Twickenham. He also played for the Dark Blues against the 1963 All Blacks tour while studying for his master’s degree at Merton College. WRU sends its deepest condolences to the DK family and friends.