Adam Jones shares his ultimate rugby team, highlighting six Welsh legends and a cult hero from his career
Cardiff: So, Adam Jones, the legendary Welsh prop, just picked his dream rugby team. He’s been around some amazing players, and it’s cool to see who made the cut.
At 43, he’s now coaching at Harlequins, but he’s still got that rugby passion. He’s known as one of the best tightheads Wales has ever seen, helping the team snag three Grand Slams. Plus, he’s toured with the British & Irish Lions, so he’s seen it all.
When he was on Danny Care’s podcast, he had to choose 15 players from his career. He didn’t pick himself, which is pretty humble. He started with a strong front row, featuring two All Blacks, Tony Woodcock and Carl Hayman, and his mate Richard Hibbard as the hooker.
Jones really loved Hibbard, saying they were like kindred spirits. He admired Hibbard’s toughness and training dedication. Then, for the second row, he went with Alun Wyn Jones and Ireland’s Paul O’Connell. No surprise there, right? Alun Wyn is a Welsh icon.
In the back row, he picked Juan Smith and two Ospreys legends, Jerry Collins and Filo Tiatia. Jones had some great memories with Collins, who sadly passed away in 2015. He described Collins as a tough player who made a big impact on the field.
For the backs, he chose Mike Phillips as scrum-half, calling him a massive competitor. He also picked Dan Biggar at fly-half, recalling how Biggar bossed the Ospreys team even as a teenager.
And of course, he couldn’t leave out Shane Williams on the wing. Jones praised Williams for his incredible skills and ability to make magic happen on the field. He also included Brian O’Driscoll and Tommy Bowe in the mix, rounding out a stellar lineup.
Finally, he picked Leigh Halfpenny for his kicking skills and contributions to the game. Jones really enjoyed playing alongside him and admired his consistency.
So, here’s Adam Jones’ Ultimate XV: 15. Leigh Halfpenny, 14. Tommy Bowe, 13. Brian O’Driscoll, 12. Jaque Fourie, 11. Shane Williams, 10. Dan Biggar, 9. Mike Phillips; 8. Filo Tiatia, 7. Juan Smith, 6. Jerry Collins, 5. Paul O’Connell, 4. Alun Wyn Jones, 3. Carl Hayman, 2. Richard Hibbard, 1. Tony Woodcock. Quite the team, right?
