The Swansea and Ospreys lock made a huge impact at every level last season – he also starred for Wales U21 – and is all set to battle it out with fellow tourist Ian Evans and the fit-again Brent Cockbain for a place in the Ospreys’ boiler house next season.
Jones beat clubmate Richard Hibbard, who is also in Argentina and will take up a place on the bench on Sunday, and Bridgend flanker Adam Witney to the title of ‘Best Newcomer’ and receives a £200 cheque from the Principality Building Society.
WRU High Performance Manager, Mostyn Richards, announced Jones as the winner and told representatives of all the Principality Premiership clubs that he will be a force to be reckoned with in the future.
“The whole point of the Principality Premiership is to provide a competitive system through which players can progress to the regions. That is a point that appears to be hitting home more and more with the players and coaches,” said Richards. “In many ways, the Premiership is the most vital lifeline for the regions. It is their breeding ground and finishing school all wrapped into one. It provides aspirational players like Alun Wyn, Adam and Richard with the perfect environment in which to hone their skills and make a name for themselves.
“Many have done this over the past season and it is fantastic to see a youngster like Alun Wyn touring with Wales this summer. He has graduated through the age groups to be in the starting line-up for Wales against Argentina on Sunday.
“He is a second row with all the attributes to make the grade at the highest level and it comes as no surprise that Gareth Jenkins has decided he should make his Test debt this weekend. Strong at the set pieces and highly creative in the loose, he has played a number of games for the Ospreys this season and not looked out of place at the higher level.”
Bedwas centre Phil Dolman was named as the ‘Principality Premiership Player of the Year’, beating another youngster hoping to get his first cap on Sunday, Neath outside half James Hook, and Newport’s Rhys Jones to the title. He received his award and a £200 Principality Building Society cheque from WRU chief executive Steve Lewis.
“Phil became hugely influential at Bedwas and was recently voted the club’s Player of the Year and their Player’s Player of the Year. The Principality Player of the Month in December, he played in all bar one of their games and was the leading scorer,” said Lewis. “A former UWIC player, his work at centre over the past season has earned him a Development contract with the Dragons for next winter. From humble beginnings he is ready to move onto an even bigger stage and everyone at Bedwas believes he has the talent to flourish at a higher level. He is a perfect example of the way in which the Principality Premiership is constantly acting as a springboard to the professional game.”
Former Wales lock Chris Stephens beat Neath’s Rowland Phillips and Pontypridd’s Simon King to the ‘Principality Premiership Coach of the Year’ award. That title and an award of £200 from Principality Building Society came a week after he signed a new two-year contract to remain at the Brewery Field.
“More and more we are seeing coaches valued within their clubs. More and more coaches are seeking the knowledge they require to stretch themselves and improve their teams and more and more investment is being put into coaching by the WRU in a bid to raise the bar at all levels of our game,” said Leighton Morgan, the WRU Elite Coach Development Manager. “Coaches are vitally important and we are lucky to have such a high standard operating in the Principality Premiership. In conjunction with Paul Williams, Brendan Roach, Hugh Williams-Jones and Colin Hillman, Chris Stephens has forged a superb off-the-field coaching team that has brought the best out of a talented group of youngsters at the Brewery Field.
“His side lost only twice at home in the Premiership and developed a name for themselves with their all-action style. Bridgend are an exciting team to play for and Chris is obviously a good coach to play under and work with.”
Pontypool rugby club was named as the best club to visit by referees and were rewarded with the ‘Principality Premiership Fair Play’ award, while Barrie Little, who has been a volunteer at Maesteg for the past 25 years, was named as the winner of the ‘Principality Building Society Services to Rugby’ award.
