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BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Hull heap further pressure on toothless Dragons
Betfred Super LeagueCatalans (0) 0Hull FC (16) 34Tries: Ese'ese, Martin, Pryce 2, Litten, Briscoe Goals: Sezer 5 Hull FC heaped further pressure on struggling Catalans Dragons, inflicting a third Super League shutout on the bounce and back to back victories on the French side for the first time in nine years.A six-try demolition from the visitors showed up all the current weaknesses of the sloppy home side who have now gone three games, against St Helens, Wigan and now Hull FC without scoring a single the frailties of the toothless Dragons should not take away from a ruthless and at times dazzling performance from the Black and Whites in a sun-drenched Stade Gilbert Ese'ese, Lewis Martin, Will Pryce, Davy Litten and Tom Briscoe's scores ensured Hull brought home two points in got the ball rolling after 10 minutes, barrelling over from close range before Martin finished a length of the field charge after a desperate pass from Luke Keary gifted possession five yards from the Hull goal-line eight minutes it was a brace of tries from Hull's exciting 22-year-old full back Pryce which really lit up this contest, the first on 40 minutes from 20 metres inside his own half and the second a scorching 80 metres up the field, which really set the game tries for Litten and Briscoe either side of Pryce's second in the second period compounded Catalans Dragons' misery and moved the visitors up to fifth place in the Super League to follow. Catalans: Smith; Makinson, Laguerre, Cotric, Yaha; Keary, Fages; Satae, Da Costa, Navarrete, Garcia, Romano, PartingtonInterchanges: Rouge, Dezaria, Maria, SeguierHull FC: Pryce; Barron, Briscoe, Litten, Martin; Rapana, Sezer; Ese'ese, Bourouh, Knight, Hardaker, Chamberlain, AydinInterchanges: Ashworth, Balmforth, Eseh, LaidlawReferee: Liam Moore.
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Former Wales rugby star dead at 59 after suffering heart attack in the gym
Former Wales No 8 Mark Jones has died aged of 59 after suffering a heart attack in the Middle East. Tributes have poured in for the dual-code international who has been described as a 'giant' of Welsh rugby. He had been training in a gym in Qatar, where he has been living since a spell in coaching. Jones played 15 times for Wales' rugby union team and 11 for Wales' rugby league side. He also won a cap for Great Britain's 13-a-side team. Jones, affectionately nicknamed 'Scooby', spent four years at Hull FC before joining Warrington in 1995 where he went on to make 38 appearances. Speaking on behalf of the Wales Rugby League in a statement, Clive Griffiths, who coached Jones at both Wales and Warrington 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. '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. '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.' Jones made his union international debut against Scotland at Murrayfield in March 1987, aged just 21, scoring a late try in a 21-15 defeat. He made the switch to rugby league in 1990 when he joined Hull. During his career, he was sent off six times and banned for over 33 weeks for violent conduct. In Jones' 2023 autobiography 'Fighting to Speak, he opened up on his struggles with a debilitating stammer and how it led to the on-field ferocity he showed during his career. 'After one exceptionally ugly incident, when I broke Ian Gough's eye socket when playing for Ebbw Vale, I realised that in order to defeat my demons and control my bad behaviour I needed to acknowledge that my stammer was the root cause of my torment,' wrote Jones. He added: 'I have learnt to control my stammer, and have stopped my stammer controlling me. 'Anyone who has suffered from a stammer will know of the humiliation and low self-esteem it creates. 'Thankfully, I have now found a way to live my life free from its grip and I hope that my honesty and insight will help others experiencing the same torment.' After retiring in 2005, Jones coached before moving to Qatar to work as a lab technician at the Abu Dhabi international school.
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.'
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sezer stars as Hull get back to form with emphatic Super League win at Leigh
John Cartwright has already enjoyed some wonderful moments as Hull FC coach and transformed the club's fortunes in just three months in charge, but this win at Leigh could well turn out to be his finest victory yet. There is no escaping the fact that after a wonderful start to 2025, Hull have endured a difficult few weeks. Injuries and a loss of form have resulted in them exiting the Challenge Cup at the hands of their biggest rivals and tumbling outside the playoff places as the midway point of the season approaches. Related: Manchester United face urgent dilemma: ditch Amorim or revamp the squad | Jonathan Wilson But this was an emphatic return to form at a ground where away victories are hard to come by. The Leigh coach, Adrian Lam, had joked this week that their opponents here were a carbon copy of how his side play – perhaps in no small part due to the fact that four of the FC side were Leigh players as recently as last season. And in truth Leigh were beaten at their own game. Hull were magnificent, 26-0 ahead by half-time and while they didn't score a point after the break, they really didn't need to. Two late Leigh tries were nothing more than consolation as the Black and Whites returned not only to form, but into the Super League playoff places. 'We've put some consistent footy together against a side I rate highly,' Cartwright said. His side suffered another worrying injury to a key individual, with John Asiata to be sent for scans on a hamstring injury, but that should not take the edge off a very encouraging night. Anyone Cartwright asks to play out of position, they duly deliver. Tries from Cade Cust and Herman Ese'ese gave the visitors some early dominance, and they didn't relent. Lewis Martin finished a fine Will Pryce break to extend that lead further, before a decisive blow right on half-time when Sam Eseh punctured another gap in the Leigh defensive line. Aidan Sezer, on his 250th career appearance, converted all four tries and kicked a penalty to open up an unassailable lead at the interval. The Leopards, woefully under par, had been comprehensively outplayed. 'I just didn't see that coming,' Lam said. 'It was disappointing in every area, really soft and just not what we've built this season on so far.' There were improvements by Leigh after the break, but by then Hull had lost Asiata and playmaker Cust, and were defending well enough to ensure that their lead never looked threatened. It wasn't until the final quarter that Leigh finally opened their account when Edwin Ipape crossed from dummy-half, before Owen Trout followed with a try of his own six minutes later. However, even at that stage, it was obvious Hull had done more than enough when it mattered earlier in the evening.
