EX-CRUSADER JONES TAKES WARRIORS POST
FORMER Wales international Mark Jones has joined Worcester Warriors’ coaching ticket – just months after winning a Super Rugby Aotearoa title with the Crusaders.
The 47-cap winger had joined the New Zealand giants last January, but with it apparent Jones would be unable to link up with the Canterbury side due to coronavirus restrictions, he will now take up a role with the Gallagher Premiership club.
Former Scarlets wing Jones has joined the Warriors as senior assistant coach with responsibility for defence and kicking game.
“Once it became clear that I would not be able to go back to Canterbury because of the quarantine situation, things happened very quickly with Warriors,” Jones said.
“I was made aware that Alan Solomons was looking for someone to fill a key position in the coaching team and would I be interested.
“I came up, had a look around the facilities and had a chat with Alan about his thoughts for the project, to meet the coaching group and get a feel for the place.
“Once I did that it was pretty clear that it was a very exciting prospect, hence my interest.
“I know the coaches there, they are great men and I could see myself working well with them and dovetailing with them.
“The owners have got a real ambition to have a steady but sustainable growth over the next few years based around great facilities, a young squad underpinned by the academy and a forward-looking mentality which aligned well with myself.
“I have been fortunate under the current circumstances to find something that aligns as well as it has done.
“I would like to thank Canterbury and the Crusaders for all their amazing support and understanding around my family situation and difficult circumstances on regaining entry to New Zealand.
“Their support in this transition has been immense. Coaching there has been a terrific experience that we will look back on with great memories.
“We have made great friends for life. Special thanks go to the players and supporters in Christchurch for taking us into their family over the last year.
“Canterbury and Crusaders are among the few organisations that actually exceed their exceptional reputation around the world.”
Before landing the job with the Crusaders, the Builth Wells product had already experienced a varied coaching career after calling time on his career due to injury in 2010.
After working with the Scarlets as a backs coach between 2010 and 2015, he also worked as
Wales’s backs coach in 2013 when Warren Gatland was on Lions duty, playing a role in their Six Nations triumph that season.
After leaving the Scarlets, he had roles with Rotherham Titans, RGC 1404 and Namibia.
“It is fantastic news for the club that Mark will be joining us here at Sixways as senior assistant coach with specific responsibility for our defence and kicking game,” said Warriors director of rugby Alan Solomons.
“Mark is a well-known former Wales international who has developed into an outstanding coach.
“He has spent the last two seasons working as defence coach with the Crusaders Super Rugby team and attack coach with Canterbury in the Mitre Cup where he has made a huge impression.
“Over and above his ability as a coach, Mark is a first-class person who is well known to both JT ( Jonathan Thomas) and Matt Sherratt.
“This will ensure that the good synergy and alignment we have in our coaching group is not only maintained but strengthened.
“Mark is the ideal fit for us and I look forward to all of us working together in taking the club forward.”