TIME TO HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE – MARK JONES THANKS SUPPORT AT TESTIMONIAL GAME

Mark Jones with son Caleb (2) placing the match ball at Parc y Scarlets at his testimonial game.

It was an emotional Saturday afternoon for popular former Wales and Scarlets wing, Mark Jones as he led out the team with his two-year-old son Caleb proudly wearing Scarlets kit with a no 14 and ‘Daddy’ blazoned across his back.

And it will be the future generation of Scarlets that will now be Mark Jones’s focus as he moves forward from retirement as a player into his role as Skills Coach for the Scarlets.

Jones, who has been a huge servant of the region was honoured at the weekend for his contribution with a testimonial game that saw his ex-team mates seal a convincing 43 v 14 victory on Saturday afternoon at Parc y Scarlets (21/08) over former Scarlets coach, Phil Davies’ Worcester Warriors side.

With 164 appearances for the Scarlets and 85 tries under his belt during his playing career for the region, Jones has plenty to inspire and pass onto a new generation of Scarlets players – notably two new wingers 18-year-old North Walian George North and Joe Ajuwa.

Speaking after the game, Mark Jones said:  “I enjoyed the game.  It was emotional leading the players out with my little boy – I’ve been fortunate enough to run out with the team as captain and as a player for many years and there is none of that any more which is difficult.

“But it was great to say thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout and I am grateful for that – but it was also about the team and how they performed and it good to see some positives from the game from a number of the guys.”

Jones said the two wings on the field against Worcester showed “a lot of raw talent” and the key would be to help them build consistency in their game over time.

He said:  “I am sure they will have a bright future but they need to be nurtured – it’s important we don’t expect too much too soon and get carried away yet – it’s about building consistency in their game and their experience.”

On 18-year-old wing George North, Jones said:  “He has a great stature which helps in the modern game and to have it on the wing and at outside centre where he can also play, is an added bonus. He takes things on board very quickly and he works particularly hard – so I think, add that to his physical attributes and he has got a lot to offer, with a big future ahead of him.   The good thing is he’s also got his feet firmly on the ground.

“What I want to do is to aid these players in their development and with the other coaches help them reach their potential.”

Jones said that growing competition in the Scarlets backs would add to the spark this season.

“We’re lucky we’ve got a few options in the back three and some variety now with Andy Fenby, Morgan Stoddart, Lee Williams, Dan Evans as well others – it’s good we’ve got a mix of players in these positions.

“I was pleased to see the players enjoying themselves out there, we have to be harsh on our last 20 minutes when we made some errors. But overall, we were far more clinical in our try scoring opportunities this weekend in difficult conditions and it was positive to see the team learning from our game against Gloucester and moving forward.”

 The Scarlets next friendly will be on Friday 27^th August 2010 against Exeter Chiefs, kick-off 7pm and will be a testimonial match for Vernon Cooper who has been a Scarlets player for 14 seasons and has made a staggering 353 appearances (9 tries) for the region.  Cooper’s first game was against Gloucester away on 20^th August 1996.