Matthew Jones is hoping his move to the Newport Gwent Dragons will help him get his career back-on-track after an injury-plagued stint at Worcester Warriors.
The former Ospreys outside half, who won his one and only cap at 21-years-old is looking forward to an injury-free season and staking his claim for the Dragons’ number 10 shirt.
He has been signed on a two-year deal and will compete with Jason Tovey and young guns Lewis Robling and Steffan Jones for the outside half role.
“I’m really happy to be here at the Dragons and it really is lovely to be back and living in Wales, said 26-year-old Jones.
“I’ve moved back home to Maesteg and my wife is also happy. I have settled in really well, there’s a great bunch of boys. Moving to a new club can sometimes be really hard, but it’s been really good here.”
Despite making a good start at Worcester, under the guidance of former Wales coach Mike Ruddock, Jones had to contend with a number of injuries which led to him spending a large amount of time on the sidelines.
“It had been going really well at Worcester and I started something like the first 12 games when I moved there. But I then broke my foot and that ruled me out for quite a long period.
“I came back towards the end of the season but did the exact same thing again and that ruled me out until December of last season.
“But despite the injuries I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Worcester, it was good for me to get out of Wales. I had been going well at the Ospreys but I got injured, James Hook took his chance and after that I struggled to get back into the side.
“I won my Wales cap under Mike Ruddock so that gave me confidence in moving to Worcester. It was great playing in the Guinness Premiership with guys like Rico Gear, Chris Latham and Sam Tuitupou. They are players that have been there and done it and I learnt a lot from them especially playing in a pivotal position like 10.
“I feel I have matured as a player. It is weird, at the Ospreys getting picked at 19 and 20 under Lyn Jones I had to mature a lot as a player. I had to develop my kicking game and how I ran a game. But at Worcester I felt a lot more laid back and I feel I now have a better all round game.
“One thing that sticks in my memory from the Ospreys is Shaun Holley saying ‘you won’t see the best of Matthew Jones until he is 26’ and now at 26 I do feel like I am nearing my best.
“Over the last few years I have really developed. I think experience helps a lot, you learn a lot from playing in different games being in different scenarios. You just pick up little things which are critical.”
And Jones has not come to the Dragons just to make the numbers up, he has got his sights firmly set on the number 10 shirt.
“At the end of the day I have come here to play. What I have seen and heard of Jason Tovey, he is a very good player. We get on well and have a bit of banter in training. But he knows I have not come here to play second fiddle.
“That is always great for a 10 and it is something I am looking forward to. It is always good having players pushing each other for their positions and that can only help us on match days.”
Since his move across the boarder to Worcester, Jones has had no contact with the Welsh set-up and although he concedes he was never fit enough to warrant selection for Wales, with the likes of Stephen Jones, James Hook and Dan Biggar amongst their ranks, he still harbours ambitions to add to the cap he won against Canada in 2005.
Jones said: “After being in England for two years I have to establish myself at regional level again and from there I want to keep pushing.
“There is also a World Cup around the corner and that is on my mind. Whether it is too early for me I don’t know but I would love to be a part of it.
“Anyone who says they don’t want to play for Wales should probably hang-up their boots. It is every boy’s dream to play for Wales growing up and I want to play for Wales again
“I have only got the one cap, of course I am chuffed with it but it is frustrating, I want more. With game time and an injury free spell I think I can be good enough to get more than one.
“But first and foremost it’s about the Dragons and if bigger and better things come then that’s a bonus.”
