Web Exclusive

Lineouts and lectures

30th March 2007

At six feet five and over eighteen stone, Alun-Wyn Jones (21) is a regular feature in the second row for the Neath-Swansea Ospreys, and he has enjoyed solid performances in his Six Nations debut this year. A relative newcomer to international rugby - he's just earned his tenth cap - he nevertheless exudes an easy confidence.

But when he's not tackling hard or dominating line-outs, he can be found studying for his law degree at Swansea University, where the aggression he displays on the pitch gives way to a genuine modesty and a relaxed, easy-going approach to life.

When we meet, Jones is fresh from training and is still sporting a swollen cut under his blackened left eye (a souvenir from the France match), as well as complementary bruising around his right (from "touch" rugby training earlier in the day). A small price to pay for "living his dream".

It was, he says, always his ambition to play for Swansea, having been inspired by the likes of Scott Gibbs when he was younger. He played for Swansea Premiership for three years before joining the Ospreys in 2005 and is proud to be a product of the region's academy system, the same system that produced James Hook, who made his Wales debut against Argentina last year.

Jones was brought off the bench early in the 2006/07 season and got his first real break in the Heineken Cup match away to Stade Français. He admits to being "bitterly disappointed" that the Ospreys didn't secure enough points to get past the group stages of the Heineken Cup, despite only losing one game in their group, and his mind is on the EDF Celtic League semi-final against Cardiff in the Millennium Stadium on 24th March. "It's our best hope of silverware this season," he says simply.

But before he can turn his attentions back to the Ospreys, there's the small matter of the Six Nations and the search for Wales' first win in this year's competition. Jones has enjoyed an impressive Six Nations debut: he's been called the "brightest spark of the season to date", praised for "taking on the Scots single-handedly", and his line-out steal against France led directly to Wales' second try. So how does it feel to be playing in Europe's biggest rugby tournament?

"To be honest, it's such a big thing," he says with conviction, "especially when you've grown up in Wales. Rugby is such an important part of our culture and it is a tremendous honour to be playing for my country. I really can't describe how it makes me feel, it's very special. The coaching set up is second to none and the whole team environment is awesome - it's fantastic being around the other players."

But when asked about the favourable comments he has earned, Jones shifts uncomfortably in his chair, shrugs modestly and claims not to read the press. To be fair, certain sections of the media have been less than supportive of the Welsh team lately, so you can hardly blame him for not reaching for the newspapers. But, when pushed, what does he think of the reaction his own performances have provoked?

Another shrug. "For me personally, I'm happy with the way I've played so far and it's a real achievement to be playing in the Six Nations, but I don't believe that we deserve the flattering comments when we don't win the games, even though we've had a couple of good performances. We felt we could have won against Ireland and we had a great start against the French, but just couldn't keep up the momentum to seal the win. It was disappointing." And Scotland? He smiles ruefully. "We didn't really turn up against Scotland, and we failed to get any fluidity into our game, which cost us."

Even so, Jones feels that Wales answered some of their critics in the France match by displaying more consistency and momentum than in the previous two games, and he feels that the team has restored some pride. But the fact remains that Wales are still looking for their first win this year.

The next game is in Rome on Saturday, against a buoyant Italy fresh from their 17-37 victory over the Scots at Murrayfield, and Jones is quick to acknowledge that the Azzurri are no longer the minnows of European rugby.

"Italy have always had a very strong scrum and a decent line-out, which troubled England and gave the Scots real problems. And with the likes of Bortolami, Beragamasco and Castrogiovanni playing for some of Europe's leading clubs, Italy are starting to reap the benefits of having great players getting experience abroad and taking new skills and ideas back to the national set up. It is only a matter of time before we start to see Italy enjoying real success.

"We know we'll have to take them on up front. I think we're on a par with them at the set pieces and if we can build on the aspects of our play that worked well against France, we should gain some momentum. We're just looking to do what we've been doing well and for all the pieces to drop into place, but we're not looking beyond the next game. You just can't do that in international rugby because there is too much planning and information to take in. We've still got a lot of studying and analysis to do before the game."

Which brings us neatly to the subject of his education.

Jones is currently in the third year of his law degree at Swansea University, where he is studying part-time to allow him to balance his rugby ambitions with gaining a qualification that will help him to build a career outside rugby.

"Lyn Jones and Gareth Jenkins (the Ospreys and Wales coaches) are very accommodating and appreciate that rugby isn't forever. As you get older, the hits get harder and playing careers shorter, so I just want to get that piece of paper that will let me go away and get on with life after rugby. I'm not alone - there are a few guys in the squad who are thinking on similar lines."

As one of Swansea University's Elite Athletes, Jones was awarded a Sports Scholarship on entering his degree programme. The Scholarships, worth £3,000 over the duration of a degree, are awarded to talented young men and women who have the potential to become world-class, and the scholarship represents a commitment from the University to helping them develop both academically and as sporting competitors.

But attending lectures can be a problem, especially when timetables clash with training schedules, and it would appear that not everyone is familiar with Jones' progress on the pitch. "Although most people in the School of Law are aware of my commitments, I did have to explain recently why I've missed a few lectures lately. But mentioning the autumn internationals and the Six Nations seemed to clear things up pretty quickly. I do need to catch up on some reading though."

And Jones thinks he's got the balance about right, with his studies giving him "a release from rugby, a real change from sweating it out on a pitch. There's a danger of becoming stale if you're focussing all your efforts on one thing, only doing rugby, so it is good to be able to get into student mode and concentrate on different aspects of life."

As a student, Jones typically tries to keep a low profile, but he doesn't feel as though he's missing out on the student experience that, for many, defines university life. "I've never really been a big drinker," he confesses with a smile, "Sure, it would be nice to get out more, but I'm not missing out on much. I can't really do it, and I just have to work harder in training after a night out, so it's sometimes easier not to go out at all."

And is Jones, who counts former rugby captains John Eales (Australia) and Martin Johnson (England) among his sporting idols ("for what they achieved, their physicality and leadership, and they've both won World Cups. You've got to admire anyone who's won that little gold trophy.") thinking about his prospects for participating in this year's World Cup?

He rocks back in his chair and thinks for a second. "Oh, I'm just happy taking it game by game - it's there in the back of my mind every now and again but it disappears when I'm training or preparing for a match. Besides, after the Six Nations I've got the rest of the season with the Ospreys to work on, and I know that I really wouldn't be where I am today without the support I have had from the Ospreys, especially Lyn Jones."

But having performed so well for Wales lately, surely he's confident that he's put down a marker for consideration for the World Cup squad?

Again, Jones bats the question aside modestly. "It would be a brilliant eighteen months if I went to the World Cup, but I'm concentrating on the immediate future and on continuing to improve my game for next season. There's the old cliché about how when you're in the jersey you just want to fill it for as long as you can. I don't know if I'll be there for the next few games, let alone for the World Cup itself!"

"And besides," he grins, "I've got my exams to think about."

Chris Marshall

Waterfront Online