Apr 7 – ‘Mr Newport Rugby’ Brian Jones has passed away today aged 89. He made 330 appearances for the club as a player but was also a club captain, coach, chairman and president.
At the age of 18 Brian James Jones joined Newport RFC first playing for the United, but soon fought his way into the First XV making his debut vs Harlequins 19th December 1953, a 25-nil victory. He also played for Newport against the 1953-54 New Zealanders kicking a long distance goal in an 11-6 defeat. He later recalled “”Onllwyn Brace had a magnificent game at scrum half behind a Newport pack who surprised everyone, the All Blacks included, with their scrummaging and it is interesting to note that Bryn Meredith played as prop that day with Lyn Davies as hooker. As for myself the thrill of kicking a long distance penalty goal mid-way through the second half is still with me; the other Newport points coming from a try by John Lane instigated by Onllwyn.”
‘BJ’ was only the second player, after Percy Bush, to beat all three major southern hemisphere touring teams on Welsh soil. Jones played in Newport’s win 11-0 over Australia in 1957, helped the Barbarians defeat South Africa in 1960 and then celebrated victory over the otherwise invincible All Blacks at Rodney Parade three years later. He coached Newport to the Welsh Championship in 1969 and their victory over the Springboks in the same year.
Jones was also a fine Sevens players and was part of the successful Newport teams in the Snelling Sevens in the fifties and sixties.
Originally from Cwmcarn he played for Tredegar, the Royal Navy, the Barbarians and earned two caps for Wales, making his international debut against Ireland in 1960. For most of his career he played at centre, although he started out playing outside half for Pontywaun Grammar School.
As an administrator BJ was chairman of Newport RFC during their centenary in 1975. In recent years he was a keen ambassador for the `Black and Ambers, participating fully in the club, even attending training sessions and also acting as a link to Newport’s glorious past. He became club president in 2019. Newport RFC called Jones “one of the greatest rugby men of a generation”.
Update – BJ’s funeral took place at Newport Cathedral on May 2.