Former Wales and Lions rugby star Mark Jones dies in Qatar aged just 59

Irish Daily Mirror

23-05-2025

Former Welsh rugby star Mark Jones, who excelled in both union and league, has died at the age of 59 after tragically suffering a heart attack while in Qatar.
Jones, who had been living in Abu Dhabi since relocating there in 2005, was working out in a gym when he suddenly collapsed. Known for his time as a formidable No. 8, he earned 15 caps with the Welsh rugby union team and also represented his country 11 times in rugby league, securing a Great Britain appearance along the way.
His club career included stints with Neath and Ebbw Vale in union, and Hull FC and Warrington in league, where he built a reputation for his uncompromising style and intense physicality. He was no stranger to controversy on the pitch – picking up six red cards and clocking up over 33 weeks of suspensions for foul play.
Off the field, Jones openly struggled with a stammer, a condition he said left him feeling "self-loathing and hate" after he retired – contributing to what he described as "a lot of bad things" during his playing career.
Speaking to WalesOnline, Jones previously discussed the toll his speech impediment took on his mental health and how an intervention from Wales fitness coach Steve Black, who arranged therapy for him, helped him begin to heal.
Jones was a central figure in Neath's dominant late-80s side, which led to his selection for the Welsh national team. He marked his debut in 1987 with a try against Scotland. By 1991, the Tredegar-born powerhouse joined the wave of players moving from the amateur union game to the paid ranks of rugby league, switching roles to play prop.
Clive Griffiths, his former coach with the Welsh league team, paid tribute: "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 stepping away from the sport in 2005 following final spells with Pontypool, Neath and Aberavon, Jones spent some time coaching before embarking on a new chapter in Qatar, where he worked as a lab technician at the Abu Dhabi International School.
Mike Nicholas, President of Wales Rugby League, also honoured his memory: "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."