Ian Donald Jones (born 17 April 1967) is a former New Zealand

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its m ...

player. He played 79 tests for the

All Blacks The New Zealand national rugby union team, commonly known as the All Blacks ( mi, Ōpango), represents New Zealand in men's international rugby union, which is considered the country's national sport. The team won the Rugby World Cup in 1987 ...

. He is the 2nd-most capped lock, and formed one of the most famous lock pairings in international rugby, often partnered with

Robin Brooke Robin Matthew Brooke (born 10 December 1966 in Warkworth, New Zealand) is a former New Zealand rugby player. He played for the New Zealand national rugby union team in the 1990s, playing many tests alongside brother Zinzan Brooke. Career B ...

in the

from 1992 to 1998. What Jones lacked in size he more than made up for in skill, Jones was picked over physically intimidating locks such as

Mark Cooksley Mark Stephen Bill Cooksley (born 11 April 1971 in Auckland, New Zealand) is a former professional rugby union player and All Black lock. Cooksley was the tallest All Black ever at 2.05 metres and 125 kg, until this was surpassed by Dominic ...

who was the tallest

All Black The New Zealand national rugby union team, commonly known as the All Blacks ( mi, Ōpango), represents New Zealand in men's international rugby union, which is considered the country's national sport. The team won the Rugby World Cup in 1987, ...

ever. Jones made his All Black debut Saturday, 16 June 1990 v Scotland at Dunedin. At the time he was 23 years, 60 days old. Jones had an impressive start with a try on debut. Coincidentally six years later Jones played his 50th test, again at Carisbrook and again with Scotland the opponent. He scored at virtually the same exact spot in the stadium as he did six years before. Throughout his impressive career Jones was renowned for his ability in line-outs. In the Super 12 Jones made 38 appearances, often as captain, for the Chiefs between 1996 and 1999. He once scored three tries in a match, against the Waratahs in 1996. In 1998 he was handed a lengthy suspension after a stomping incident involving the Hurricanes' Jason O'Halloran. Jones started his career with Northland in 1988 as a string bean 20-year-old lock who was tipped for big things back then. He picked up the nickname "Kamo" after his home town just north of Whangārei in New Zealand's Northland region. In total Jones played 105 matches for the All Blacks including 79 tests. Jones was named captain for one match. Jones scored a total of 14 tries in All Blacks matches with nine of those in test matches.

Retirement

Jones now works as a television rugby commentator for Sky Sports and presented their now defunct programme 'RugbyCentre'. In the 2010 New Year Honours, Jones was appointed a

Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order of merit in the New Zealand royal honours system. It was established by royal warrant on 30 May 1996 by Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand, "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have ren ...

for services to rugby.

References

External links

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Wasps profileCelebrity Speakers Ian Jones page
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Ian 1967 births New Zealand international rugby union players Chiefs (rugby union) players Gloucester Rugby players Living people Wasps RFC players Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit New Zealand rugby union players North Harbour rugby union players Northland rugby union players Rugby union players from Whangārei Rugby union locks New Zealand expatriate rugby union players Expatriate rugby union players in England New Zealand expatriate sportspeople in England Barbarian F.C. players People educated at Kamo High School