Jones: My ambition is being the best I can be

Scarlets have welcomed the return of fans favourite Stephen Jones and says he is excited by the challenges that lie ahead.

Jones made a return to Parc y Scarlets, and his home region, after three years in London with Aviva Premiership side Wasps.

The successful outside half, who made 316 appearances for Llanelli and Scarlets over 15 seasons, joins the new-look coaching team of Byron Hayward and Ioan Cunningham under the leadership of Head Coach Wayne Pivac.

Speaking earlier this week Jones said: “This is my third week with the club, it’s been great. I really enjoyed myself in London but it’s nice to come back to the Scarlets. I was born and grew up here, it’s a wonderful place to be.”

Speaking about his ambitions as a new coach Jones went on to say; “I’m a young coach, I’m only in my third year and I have a lot to learn it’s as simple as that. There’s a big difference between playing and coaching. The reality is coaching is completely different; you have to absorb as many ideas as you can, try and improve, get better and learn off other people whether it be players or coaches.

“I’m learning from the people around me. You always listen to players, they’re at the coal face and they have to be comfortable delivering your game plan. My ambition is being the best I can be.”

Scarlets are currently without ten internationals who are on World Cup duty which opens doors to the region’s next generation of talent says Jones; “There’s a fresh group here and a lot of guys I wouldn’t have met or worked with before.

“It’s interesting in a World Cup year to see the age range of the squad. We’re bolstered by the academy and we’re working with a very young crop at the moment.

“The energy and excitement the young players bring – it’s infectious.”