Mark Jones expresses surprise at becoming Ospreys head coach earlier than expected amid a hectic week for the team
City: Swansea. So, Mark Jones is the new head coach of the Ospreys, and he’s pretty taken aback by how quickly everything happened. Just last week, he was gearing up to take over at the end of the season, but now he’s in charge right before a big match against the Scarlets.
It’s been a wild ride for him. The Ospreys just had a tough loss in Europe, and then bam! They announce he’s stepping up to the head coach role seven months earlier than planned. Jones has been around the game for a while, so he’s not completely shocked, but it’s still a lot to take in.
He mentioned how the week started with a long trip back from France, and then things shifted quickly. He was surprised when he got the call about taking over. His first thoughts were about Toby Booth, the previous coach, and how he must be feeling. Booth has done a lot for the team, and Jones respects that.
Jones is trying to focus on the upcoming game, but he knows it’s a big change for everyone involved. The players are probably feeling a bit of uncertainty too. He’s been chatting with them, and they’re all trying to figure out what this means for the team moving forward.
He’s got a good relationship with Booth and knows he’ll be cheering for the Ospreys from the sidelines. Jones has been with the team as a defence coach, so he’s familiar with the players and the setup. Now, he’s just got to step up and lead the whole operation.
He doesn’t think his workload will change too much, just a few more press conferences and dealing with player feedback. But he’s ready to take on the challenge and help the team grow.