The highly-rated Jones becomes just the fifth full-time referee within WRU ranks after signing a 12-month contract with the union.
In the past the Active Community Sport Development Officer at Ysgol Calon Cymru in Llandrindod Wells has led a hectic life juggling his refereeing career alongside his day job so a secondment from Powys County Council comes as a huge relief for Jones.
“It feels good to be given a 12 month contract, it has been a very tough couple of years refereeing and juggling work but the Welsh Rugby Union have offered me a full time contract and work have been excellent about it to be fair – Powys County Council have offered me a secondment for a year so if it doesn’t work out there’s always an opportunity to going back there and I thank them very much for that,” said Jones.
He admits going full-time will be a jolt to the system, but it’s a challenge he is prepared to take head on.
“There will be a lot of pressure now this has happened but I’m really looking forward to the opportunity – it allows me to train full-time and get the medical and nutritional side of it sorted as well – but just to train with the other boys is a big, big bonus really.”
Nigel Owen, Dan Jones, Craig Evans and Ben Whitehouse are the other professional WRU referees and Jones is thankful for their assistance over the past five or six years in what has become a united band of brothers.
“We’re like the third team on the pitch at the end of the day and we are very tight knit – I’ve been lucky to go and train with them a couple of times – it is the spirit, that team ethos on a Saturday we have through the week that I particularly enjoy, so I’m really looking forward to getting stuck in and see how things go.”
Jones’ immediate action as a full-time WRU employee will be this weekend on the other side of the world where he will be officiating in the New Zealand leg of the World Rugby Sevens Series. Alongside Craig Evans, he is hoping it will be a first step towards Olympic selection.
“For this year I think Craig’s and my goals are the Olympics – it would be amazing if we both got to do that. This is our fourth year on the series and we have really enjoyed it and the opportunity of an Olympics, especially in Tokyo after last year’s World Cup, is something you can’t shy away from.”
Having done the hard yards in the lower divisions to reach this point, Jones is determined not to take anything for granted and seize the opportunity that has come his way.
“I think you just look at the opportunities and I know Sean Brickell [WRU Community match officials development Lead] says you have got to pinch yourself sometimes and think about the places you have been to like Principality Stadium, the Aviva Stadium and Clermont Auvergne – these are places most people don’t get to experience in their life time so for us it’s hard work to get there, but when you get there you have got to enjoy it.
“Enjoyment is the key word they always say before we get out on the pitch and it is something that you have got to think about when you look back on your career – how many people have actually been there and done that – so that is something I will be proud of.”
“It’s great to have Adam on board as a full-time referee and it is fully deserved,” said WRU National Referee Performance Manager, Paul Adams.
“Adam has been one of our most consistent referees over the last few years evidenced by the fact that he has been voted Premiership Referee of the Year for the last three consecutive years.
“In addition to his sevens appointments, Adam has been selected to referee two games in the Under 20’s Six Nations Championship. This is a great opportunity for Adam and if he performs well, he could put himself in-line to referee in the World Rugby U20 Championship at the end of the season.
“Personally, I am delighted that Adam has been given the chance to obtain his personal goals and honestly believe he will thrive in the professional environment.”
