Who is Huw Jones?

 

Jones hails from Edinburgh, but moved to England at a young age, where he attended Millfield school in Somerset, along with fellow pupils and England International's Jonathan Joseph and Mako Vunipola.

 

It was at Millfield where he started taking rugby more seriously.

 

He was never recognised for his rugby abilities and did not represent any England age-group levels during his time in the United Kingdom.

 

"I was a bit of a late-developer at school, I played scrumhalf until I was 16 and I was too small for England Under-16 and was never considered for England U18." Jones said at a Stormers conference on Tuesday.

 

After his schooling he made the trip down south to Cape Town where he began his year as a 'gap' student at Bishops Preparatory in 2013. 

 

In the Cape Province Jones played club rugby for False Bay, and when their Director of Rugby Kevin Musikanth was appointed as the head coach of the UCT Ikey Tigers, Jones followed suit and enrolled at the University of Cape Town (UCT). 

 

The 21-year-old helped UCT clinch the Varsity Cup title in 2014 after he opened the scoring in the fourth minute of the Final in Potchefstroom, as they won in dramatic fashion against the Pukke.

 

Jones has since rapidly climbed the ranks at Western Province representing their Under-20 side and the Vodacom Cup team, making his first class debut against the Free State Cheetahs last year.

 

After impressing the Province coaching staff he found his way into the Stormers Super Rugby squad for 2015. 

 

Stormers assistant coach Robbie Fleck has praised his ability as a centre.

 

"I have been massively impressed with him," said Fleck.  

 

"Since 2009 I have been part of the set-up here and he is probably one of the best young centres who has come through the system." 

 

"He is a quick learner, he has time on the ball which is his biggest attribute, he  has got speed and strength, he can distribute the ball both ways and he can kick with both feet.

 

"In my opinion this kid is one for the future and a really special player in the making."

 

Jones made the journey to South Africa in 2013 and has not looked back since, when asked why he chose South Africa he said, he explained that it was completely by chance 

 

"To be honest I didn't have another option, I wanted to be a gappie at a prep School. I applied to Bishops in Cape Town and they accepted me so I decided to see what Cape Town is like," said Jones.

 

The midfielder has told the Stormers coaching staff that he does not want to play on the wing, but he doesn't mind covering the position from the bench.  

 

"I don't like to play on the wing, but as a bench player I don't mind covering," he said.

 

He made an appearance in the centres against the Hurricanes in Round Eight of Super Rugby and came up against one of the deadliest midfield combinations in history – Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith. 

 

"I was pretty excited, coming up against two of the best centres in the world, its was a great challenge, I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous." 

 

"I think once I got into the game I felt quite comfortable there and I really enjoyed it," Jones added.

 

Jones has the luxury of training alongside Test players Juan de Jongh and Damien de Allende, with Jean de Villiers on the sidelines, and it has been extremely valuable to the young player. 

 

"It's amazing to be learning from three Springboks, to be training with those guys everyday, I couldn't ask for a better development," he said.

 

Jones would obviously have the option of returning to his home nation to have a crack at English, Scottish or Welsh national duty, but hasn't heard anything from his homeland and is happy in Cape Town for now as he continues his studies at UCT.

 

"I haven't really heard anything from back home.

 

"To be honest Im just happy playing for the Stormers, and I didn't see myself getting here even at the beginning of this year.

 

"So far so good and Im just concentrating on being here."

 

Although Jones has settled into South Africa and is representing the country by province he will be backing the English at the World Cup this year.

 

"I don't think I will be supporting the Springboks, my heart still lies with England, ever since they won the World Cup in 2003."