Jack Jones (rugby, born 1890)


John Jones, also known as Bedwellty Jones, was a Welsh rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1910s. He played representative level rugby union for Wales, and at club level for Abertillery RFC, as a prop, i.e. number 1 or 3, and club level rugby league for Oldham, as a forward, during the era of contested scrums.

Background

Jones was born in Bedwellty, Wales.

Rugby career

Jack Jones won caps for Wales while at Abertillery RFC in 1914 against England, Scotland, France, and Ireland. Jones, a collier by trade, was a member of the 'Terrible Eight', the nickname the Wales pack was given by the press in the games against Scotland and Ireland in 1914. Both matches were reported as very abrasive contests.
Just two weeks after his final rugby union international for Wales, in which he scored his only international points, a try against Ireland, he turned professional when he joined rugby league team Oldham. He made his début for Oldham against St. Helens on 4 April 1914, and scored three tries in the match.