Book description
Ken Jones was a former British Lions, Wales and Newport wing as
well as a sprinter good enough to win an Olympic silver medal. He died
at the age of 84 in 2006. Jones started his rugby career with local
side Blaenavon and Pontypool before joining Newport in time for the
1946-47 season. He won 44 caps for Wales - 43 of them in consecutive
matches - which was a Welsh record until overtaken by Gareth Edwards.
Jones scored 17 tries for Wales. He also played three Tests for the
British and Irish Lions during the 1950 tour to New Zealand.
An all-round athlete, Jones represented Britain at the 1948
Olympics in London and won silver in the 4x100m relay. He and his
teammates were actually presented with gold medals because the USA
were disqualified. But he had to return the medal because the USA had
been reinstated!
Jones captained Britain at the European Games in Berne in 1954 and
represented Wales at the Empire Games in 1954 in Vancouver. He was the
Welsh sprint champion for seven consecutive years, using that pace on
the rugby field to score 146 tries in 293 games for Newport,
captaining the side in 1950-51 and 1953-54. For his services to sport,
Jones was awarded the OBE in 1960.
Steve Lewis's other books include, The Essential History of
Rugby Union - Wales (2003), The Priceless Gift:: 125 Years of Welsh
International Rugby Captains (2005), One Among Equals: England's
International Rugby Captains (2008) and most recently, Last of the
Blue Lions (2009), an account of the 1938 series in South Africa. He
lives in Newport.
