BY CARL FIELD
Pro12 side Cardiff Blues have announced the signing of Wales
and British & Irish Lions prop Adam Jones.
Front row Jones, who has made 95 appearances for Wales and
toured twice with the Lions, has put pen to paper on a deal to play his rugby
at Cardiff Arms Park this season.
“This is about a new challenge for me.” said Jones.
“At this stage in my career I want a new environment and to
really push myself.
“I've been really impressed by the set-up at Blues and the
desire to achieve in the coming years under the leadership of Mark Hammett.
“It is that ambition and potential for the future that
excites me about this move.”
Destructive prop Jones has been a cornerstone of the Welsh
pack for the last decade, making his debut against England in 2003 and scoring
on his first Six Nations appearance against Scotland the following year.
The Abercrave–born ace won the Grand Slam with Wales in
2005, 2008 and 2012 and has featured in the last three Rugby World Cups, making
a total of 12 appearances.
The 33-year-old was also an integral member of the
triumphant British & Irish Lions side that beat the Wallabies in 2013,
adding three more caps to the two he won in South Africa in 2009.
Jones began his career with Neath in 1998 before switching to
the Ospreys in 2003.
He made more than 150 appearances and won the Celtic League
with Ospreys on four occasions in 2004/05, 2006/07, 2009/10 and 2011/12.
On leaving the Ospreys, Jones said: “Obviously I would like
to thank everyone at the Ospreys – from the players and coaches to the
wonderful supporters – who have been absolutely fantastic with me.
“I wish the region every success for the future.”
Mark Hammett, director of rugby at Cardiff Blues, said: “Adam
has joined the Blues determined to achieve something special with us.
“He is as hungry as ever for success and a very driven man. Adam
wants to make a difference and that is exactly why we want him here.
“He will be great for the younger players to learn off and
is a world class tight-head prop who will add considerably to the squad we are
assembling.
“He will improve what we are doing and I'm thrilled he is
now a Blue for this season.”
Chairman Peter Thomas also spoke of his delight, saying: “We
are delighted to recruit Adam and reunite the British & Irish Lions front
row, alongside Matthew Rees and Gethin Jenkins.
“He is one of the very best props in Europe and, when it
became clear he was available, we acted quickly, in conjunction with our
director of rugby, to secure his services over the last 48 hours.
"We hope this signing excites our fans and they see
this as fantastic news.”
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