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Irish Daily Mirror
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Former Wales and Lions rugby star Mark Jones dies in Qatar aged just 59
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."
Wales Online
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Former Wales rugby international Mark Jones dies aged 59 as tributes pour in
Former Wales rugby international Mark Jones dies aged 59 as tributes pour in Mark Jones has passed away after suffering a heart attack in Qatar Former Wales No 8 Mark Jones has died aged 89 Former Wales No. 8 Mark Jones has passed away at the age of 59 after suffering a heart attack in Qatar. Jones had been training in a gym in Abu Dhabi, where he has lived since moving there in 2005. 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. Article continues below 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. Article continues below 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.'
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Wales dual-code forward Jones dies aged 59
Former Wales dual-code rugby international Mark Jones has died at the age of the son of a collier, began his senior rugby career in union with local side Tredegar Ironsides before joining Tredegar RFC, then on to Neath in 1985 - at the time one of the powerhouses of Welsh was there that the number eight began establishing his reputation as one of the 'hard men' of the game, and during his career he was sent off six times and banned for more then 33 weeks for violent disciplinary record did not harm his international chances though, and Jones played 15 times for Wales between 1987 and 1990 before switching to rugby league with made his Wales bow in union against Scotland at Murrayfield in March 1987, aged just 21, scoring a late try on debut in a 21-15 switching codes to league in October 1990 - part of a Welsh exodus as players from the still amateur union game flocked to the professional code - Jones suffered a series of ankle injuries that initially limited his time on the pitch for undoubted rugby talent eventually shone through and saw Jones win 11 caps for Wales in the 13-man game, including two during a famous 1995 World Cup campaign where Wales reached the semi-finals. He also represented Great Britain, playing one game against France in February four years with Hull, featuring at prop and second row, Jones played for a season at Warrington before returning to union with Ebbw period with the Steelmen proved the most notorious of his career, including an infamous brawl with Swansea's Wales prop Stuart Evans that saw both men banned for four in the 1998-99 league season against Pontypridd, Jones landed a punch on a young Ian Gough that left the future Wales star needing surgery on his eye socket. Another three-week ban followed his sending-off by referee Derek his transgressions, Jones earned a Wales recall and won his 15th and final cap as a lock against Zimbabwe in June 1998, just a few days before turning played for Pontypool and Aberavon before the end of his career and after hanging up his boots, Jones went on to work as a lab technician in an international school for an oil company in the Middle time at the school saw Jones become involved in rugby coaching, and he went on to coach the Qatar national 2023, Jones reflected on his turbulent career by releasing his autobiography 'Fighting To Speak'.In the book, he candidly explained how his on-going struggle with a debilitating stammer made him "very anxious, full of self-loathing and hate", and how rugby gave him the chance to ferociously release that rage on the field.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
TV show about the Welsh valleys given second season by BBC
An animated adult show about Ebbw Vale has been given the green light for a second season. 'The Golden Cobra' is an adult comedy about 'the worst' Indian takeaway in Ebbw Vale. Created by friends Adam Llewellyn, James Prygodzicz and Thomas Rees the comedy follows the adventures of takeaway owner Basil and his family and friends. The first season aired back in 2024 and made viewers chortle with storylines about Maesteg cannibals and poisonous curries. Golden Cobra Creators (left to right) Adam Llewellyn, Thomas Rees and James Prygodzicz at BBC studios London. (Image: Adam Llewellyn) Speaking of the big news writer Adam Llewellyn 38, said: 'We found out a few weeks back but obviously we had to keep it under wraps, it's like getting a new job you want to tell your friends and family, but we couldn't say anything yet! 'We've got more episodes and a bigger animation team this time around so like more cutting-edge animation. 'We're hoping to show more of Ebbw Vale we might go to Rassau this time…' Golden Cobra Creators (left to right) James Prygodzicz, Adam Llewellyn, and Thomas Rees at the Royal Television Society Cymru Wales Awards. (Image: Adam Llewellyn) Adam commented he'd like to see more Welsh adult animation. He told the Argus: 'There is amazing stuff being made in Wales and out of Wales and we are one of the only ones that's an adult show. 'There's loads of studios in Cardiff as well, but hopefully more adult animation can come out of Wales.' Adam shared his love for his hometown: 'Big love to Ebbw Vale I absolutely love Ebbw Vale and I'm honoured to immortalise in animated form.' Golden Cobra Creator Adam Llewellyn at the Royal Television Society Cymru Wales Awards. (Image: Adam Llewellyn) The former teacher at Ebbw Vale College practised animation as a hobby in his spare time. His first show 'The Vale' accumulated a mass following on You Tube. With no idea how his passion would snowball Adam is incredibly happy to be doing what he does now. He said: 'We even have some celebrities taking part in this season it's going to be great.' The BBC Three animated series also recently won the Best Comedy award at the Royal Television Society Cymru Wales Awards earlier this month. Adam said fans of the show should 'keep an eye out' for season two in 2026.
Wales Online
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Wales international's younger brother 'on fire' as he takes jersey off club legend
Wales international's younger brother 'on fire' as he takes jersey off club legend The 22-year-old helped his club to title glory in what was described as a 'changing of the guard' Lloyd is 'on fire' after making the No. 10 jersey his own (Image: Gareth Everett/Huw Evans Agency ) Newport RFC have been crowned the best team in Wales outside of the professional game after beating Ebbw Vale 27-18 in the first-ever Super Rygbi Cymru final, with young fly-half Jac Lloyd helping them to victory with a player of the match performance. The Black & Ambers ended their 150th anniversary season on a high at Eugene Cross Park as they defeated the Steelmen on Sunday afternoon to become the inaugural winners of the new league and take the second-tier title for the first time since 2004. Tries from Dafydd Buckland, Lloyd and Carwyn Penny helped Newport to victory, with the outside-half putting the outcome beyond all doubt from the tee as he was named the official player of the match. The 22-year-old - who is the younger brother of Wales international and Cardiff-bound Scarlets star Ioan Lloyd - has quickly become a key player for Ty Morris' side after breaking into the team earlier this season. Lloyd, who can also play at full-back, came through the Bristol Bears' academy and played for Sydney University in the Shute Shield before moving to Newport in 2023. He made 16 appearances in his first season with the club as they finished runners-up in the Welsh Premiership, with seven of those coming as starting fly-half. Article continues below However, with club legend and long-time star playmaker Matt O'Brien taking on further responsibilities as part of the Dragons' senior coaching staff, it has fallen to someone else to pull the strings for the Black & Ambers, with former Wales U20s star Lloyd stepping up to fill the role. Having made the jersey his own, the youngster looks set to be the main man at No.10 for Morris' team, with O'Brien himself giving his seal of approval after Sunday's victory over Ebbw Vale. While he confirmed that he is planning on staying at the club for "a couple more seasons", the 32-year-old admitted that he currently doesn't expect to get back into the team ahead of the "on fire" Lloyd. Dedicating the title win to club legend and 'Mr Newport' Brian Jones, who died last month, O'Brien told S4C: "It feels brilliant, the supporters they deserve it more than anyone. "A lot of hard work has gone into it over the last four or five years and we got the reward today. I think the better side won." The fly-half was named Player of the Match as Newport defeated Ebbw Vale in the Super Rygbi Cymru final (Image: Gareth Everett/Huw Evans Agency ) Quizzed on his future, he added: "I'm potentially still going to have a couple more seasons but I'll be playing a lot less with everything going on. "But I think you saw today, the changing of the guard has probably happened already, to be honest. Jac Lloyd, I don't think I'll ever get the shirt back off him, he's on fire "I'm chuffed for him, I'm chuffed for the club and with the 150th anniversary, I think it's a great way to finish, obviously with the passing of BJ a few weeks ago as well as we all know, so I'm really pleased. " Lloyd's standout performance against Ebbw Vale comes after head coach Morris hailed him as "one of the best all-rounders in the league" after rising to the challenge of filling O'Brien's boots at fly-half. 'We were aware at the beginning of last season about Matt's commitments to the Dragons and where his future lied regarding coaching,' the coach told the South Wales Argus. 'We had to accept that Matt was not going to be available as much but the way things worked out meant he still played around 70 per cent of games last year. 'We thought that we would be making the transition but Jac probably didn't get as much game time as he wanted last season, but he has this time. He has really grown into the role, especially post-Christmas when Matt has been unavailable or injured. Article continues below 'Jac has had time in the saddle, has grabbed that 10 jersey and, in my opinion, is one of the best all-rounders in the league," Morris added. "[He] has been able to have the time to make errors whereas previously he would have two or three games and then Matt would have two or three games. 'He is growing in terms of his performances but also with his confidence around the group, being a leader, talking a lot and controlling games.'
