‘I was honoured to get the call’ – Wales legend excited by Moana Pasifika challenge

Legendary Wales fly-half Stephen Jones is relishing the opportunity of working as Moana Pasifika’s backline coach during the upcoming Super Rugby Pacific season.

Jones is excited to add value in his surroundings as part of new Moana Pasifika head coach Tana Umaga’s backroom staff and is keen to showcase his coaching skills while also enhancing them.

Wales Test centurion

The 46-year-old represented Wales in 104 Tests at fly-half or inside centre between 1998 and 2011 and won numerous titles as a player at club and Test level.

Amongst those include a Six Nations Championship, a Welsh Premier Division title, and Celtic Division success. He also participated in two tours with the British and Irish Lions to New Zealand (2005) and South Africa (2009), and he won six Test caps for the famous touring team.

Jones has also had great success as a backs and attack coach for Wales between 2019 and 2022 as he helped them win a Six Nations title and Triple Crown in 2021.

He was also part of the Scarlets’ backroom staff when they qualified for the Champions Cup and helped the Welsh region to lift the PRO14 title during the 2016/17 season.

With less than a month to go until the start of Super Rugby Pacific, Jones is determined to do well in his new coaching role.

“Working with great people is what it’s about, and I feel very honoured and privileged to have the opportunity here,” he told Newshub.

The former Wales star received the opportunity to be part of Moana Pasifika’s coaching staff via a phone call from Umaga, and he admitted that he did not need much convincing to take the job.

“I was very honoured to get the call,” said Jones. “It didn’t take me long to make up my mind, if I’m honest.

“To coach in Super Rugby was something that was a no-brainer.”

Looking forward to the challenge

After a four-year stint as Wales’ attack coach – and 13 years at Test level as a player – the challenge of making the switch to southern hemisphere rugby is something which Jones is keen to tackle head on.

“Ninety-five percent of my international rugby, I’d been coach be either Graham Henry, Steve Hansen or Warren Gatland, so I’ve got a pretty good idea about what southern hemisphere rugby is about,” he said.

Despite all his knowledge, Jones know he still has plenty to earn as Moana Pasifika have a unique culture, which he hopes will shine through in the way they play the game.

“What excites me is the standard, the ability to move ball quickly,” he said. “They play with width and play with tempt… it’s brilliant.”

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