Ian Jones (rugby player)
Encyclopedia
Ian Donald Jones MNZM (born 17 April 1967 in Whangarei
) is a former New Zealand
rugby union
player. He played 79 tests for the All Blacks
and is the most capped lock and formed one of the most famous lock pairings in international rugby, often partnered with Robin Brooke
in the All Blacks
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
who was the tallest All Black 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. Jones was the latest man to have topped a century (100) matches for the All Blacks.
In the Super 12 Jones made 38 appearances, often as captain, for the Chiefs between 1996 and 1999. Amazingly for a lock 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 Whangarei in New Zealand's Northland province.
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.
In the New Year Honours 2010, Jones was appointed Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit
, for services to rugby.
Whangarei
Whangarei, pronounced , is the northernmost city in New Zealand and the regional capital of Northland Region. Although commonly classified as a city, it is officially part of the Whangarei District, administered by the Whangarei District Council a local body created in 1989 to administer both the...
) is a former New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player. He played 79 tests for the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
and is the most capped lock and formed one of the most famous lock pairings in international rugby, often partnered with Robin Brooke
Robin Brooke
Robin Matthew Brooke is a former New Zealand rugby player. He played for the All Blacks n the 1990s, playing many tests alongside younger brother Zinzan Brooke...
in the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
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 Cooksley
Mark Stephen Bill Cooksley is a former professional rugby union player and All Black lock.Cooksley holds the distinction of being the tallest All Black ever at an imposing 2.05 meters and 125 kg. He had a long All Black career, spanning from 1992 until 2001...
who was the tallest All Black 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. Jones was the latest man to have topped a century (100) matches for the All Blacks.
In the Super 12 Jones made 38 appearances, often as captain, for the Chiefs between 1996 and 1999. Amazingly for a lock 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
Northland Rugby Union
The Northland Rugby Football Union is the governing body of rugby union in the Northland region of New Zealand.-History:Rugby was first played in Northland in the 1870s, and the first union was set up in the province in 1895, known as the Marsden Football Union. The Northland union was founded in...
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 Whangarei in New Zealand's Northland province.
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.
In the New Year Honours 2010, Jones was appointed Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
, for services to rugby.