Having began his elite playing career in 1983 for Neath RFC, Jones played most of his playing career for the Welsh All Blacks, before eventually starting his coaching career at the same club.
Entering the start of the professional era of rugby union in Wales, Jones led Neath to qualification of the Heineken Cup.
At the turn of regional rugby in 2003, he remained with his region to coach the collective Neath-Swansea Ospreys team, the side that he led to claim the 2004–05 Celtic League title.
In May 2008, Jones left the region by mutual agreement, shortly after winning the EDF Anglo/ Welsh Cup against Leicester Tigers.
During the 2008/09 Welsh Premiership season, Jones acted as a part time consultant for Ebbw Vale RFC before leaving his post in February 2009 to take up a post at an Abu Dhabi school.
In June 2011, he was appointed head coach of London Welsh, who immediately gained promotion to then Aviva Premiership for 2012/13.
Within a week of leaving London Welsh, Jones joined the Newport Gwent Dragons as Director of Rugby.
By the end of the season, Jones had improved the Dragons positioning from the previous season up to 9th on the table and with 7 wins.
November 2016 saw him being named the head coach of the Welwitschias – a Namibian team playing in the South Africa Currie Cup competition.
Jones remained with the side for 2018, despite also acting as a consultant for Neath RFC in February 2018 until the end of the Welsh season. Following the conclusion of the 2018 Rugby Challenge in June 2018, Jones announced he would leave the Namibian side to return home to Wales.
On leaving Namibia, Jones was due to retake the reigns as head coach at Neath RFC, until it was officially announced that Jones would become the head coach of the Russian national team ahead of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Career
 |
Netherlands Head Coach |
2023 - present |
 |
The Delta Head Coach |
2023 - present |
 |
Russia Head Coach |
2018 - 2023 |
