Mark Jones has passed away after suffering a heart attack in the Middle East
Former Wales No. 8 Mark Jones has passed away at the age of 59 after suffering a heart attack in the Middle East.
Wales Rugby League said Jones had been training in his local gym. The former dual-code international played 15 times for Wales’ rugby union team, while he also featured 11 times for Wales rugby league team – also winning one cap for Great Britain in the 13-a-side.
During his playing days for Neath and Ebbw Vale in union, as well as Hull FC and Warrington, Jones was known for his brutal physicality.
During his career, he was sent off six times and banned for over 33 weeks for violent conduct.
Jones also dealt with a stammer, which he admitted after retiring led to him being filled with “self-loathing and hate” – resulting in doing, as he put it, “a lot of bad things” on the field.
Jones previously spoke to WalesOnline about how his stammer affected his career, including the incident that led to Wales fitness coach Steve Black organising counselling for him. You can read the full interview here.
During his time at Neath, he became a vital part of the all-conquering side of the late 1980s.
That led to his Wales call-up, with Jones scoring a try on his debut against Scotland in 1987.
In 1991, Jones, who hailed from Tredegar, joined the exodus of Welsh players out of the amateur rugby union scene to the professional 13-aside game where he played as a prop.
Clive Griffiths, who coached Mark for a number of years with Wales’ rugby league side, said: “Scooby was a giant in both codes, and the fact that he went on to play for Great Britain as well, speaks volumes for his ability as a player.
“He was part and parcel of that great era of Welsh rugby league until rugby union went back professional in 1995. From 1991-95, he was an ever-present in the Welsh squad.
“Everybody loved him as a man first and foremost. I recently read his book and it’s just so interesting to read about his life.
“For me, it’s like losing one of the family. We’re so tight as a group, the team of 1995, and we’re always in touch. It’s difficult to explain the depth of feeling from that group of players right now.
“Scooby was different in all every sense of the word, in the nicest possible way. He always called me boss, right up until now. He was a brilliant man, one of the best and that’s why he was loved so much.”
After retiring in 2005 after spells back in the 15-a-side game with Pontypool, Neath and Aberavon, he coached for a while before moving to Qatar to work as a lab technician at the Abu Dhabi International School.
Wales Rugby League president Mike Nicholas said: “He was a terrific tourist and a great guy. I was his team manager with Wales in 1995 with Wales and he was a brilliant character on our tour of America.
“A fantastic player and team-mate and he’ll be missed by all who knew him. My condolences to his friends and family.”
