My Life in Rugby: Ceri Jones – former Newport, Quins, Worcester & Wales prop

My only start for Wales came as tighthead prop, but when you’re given the chance to play for your country, you play anywhere – I’d even have gone on the wing.
It was the 2007 summer tour to Australia and my first game was in Sydney when I came on for the last 20 minutes as loosehead.
But for the next game we had a few injuries with Adam Jones ruled out, and having played a few times in that position for Harlequins, I got picked.
It was a tough match, we lost 31-0 but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Unfortunately that was the end of my international career.
We had an abundance of loosehead talent, like Gethin Jenkins, but I was fortunate I had a fantastic career so I can’t complain.
My father Lyn used to play first-class rugby, and on a trip to play in Bermuda he met former All Black Jock Ross and they became friends. So after only really playing for my local team Usk, I went to New Zealand to play for Mid-Canterbury U20s through that link.
It was my first time properly away from home, it was a bit daunting but a great experience. We ended up playing the junior All Blacks and I felt I gave quite a good account of myself.
I was working out there too, on a sheep, pig and deer farm. It was good fun, my family has owned a sheep farm for generations and I still help out now, so it’s something I’m familiar with.
I came back and got my chance at Newport when Rod Snow was injured.
After one training session, I was put in the side and I remember the crowd shouting: “Neath! Neath! Neath!” That was quite intimidating.
It was very much ‘in at the deep end’, but even though we didn’t win, I must have done all right because I spent five years there.
A particular highlight was the Welsh Cup final win at the Millennium Stadium in 2001 against Neath.
Around 2003, there was talk of things going regional, everything was up in the air, I was not getting in at Newport and the option of going on loan to Harlequins came up.
My first game was against Bristol away in March 2003 and then we played London Irish the week after.
It was the club’s first victory for about 12 months. I was awarded a permanent contract after that season.
The next campaign we went on our Challenge Cup run, where we got to the final and beat Montferrand at the Madejski. Winning it a second time against Stade Francais in 2011 was just amazing.
We also met them in the Heineken Cup, and played them away in their stadium with it being a sea of pink. We beat them there and then again at home.
I moved to Worcester in 2011 although injuries restricted my appearances. If it had not been for that I’d still be playing. I had another year on my contract, and although I was getting into my coaching, I was still interested in playing on.
But I had been getting into coaching for a while so it’s just about getting my head down and seeing where it goes in the future.