James Jones gets his first Test
On Saturday James Laurence Jones of Swansea will be refereeing his very first Test - a match between Romania and Czech Republic in Ricany. Of course, it's exciting for the 28-year-old who has been refereeing for 15 years.
A Mid Walian, he talks about his entry into refereeing as a young boy at Penyrheol Comprehensive School in Swansea after which he went on to Gorseinon College. Swansea - the Bay, the Mumbles, the Gower Peninsula, St Helen's Ground, the All Whites - easy to feel the rugby spirit there.
The spirit was willing, but the performance was not so great, as he explains: "I was the best-ever super sub in each team I was a member! I had the occasional game at flank/wing and scrumhalf but turned my hand to refereeing at a very young age (13) as I was never the biggest or hardest of players. I would go on the field in a pair of white shorts and come off the field in the cleanest kit as I was afraid to tackle! My Dad, Keith, was a referee to a fairly high standard and so I followed in his footsteps.
"I had a lot of jokes from my friends on first taking up refereeing but I would never have had the opportunities I have had as a referee had I continued to play or warm the bench! I certainly wouldn't change the road I have taken.
"I started refereeing and working with Loughor and Dunvant Rugby clubs who took me under their wing and had me refereeing training sessions etc aiding my development.
"Having had a lot of support and coaching on the referee front from Dad (and nutrition advice from Mam!) I progressed onto the Welsh Rugby Union senior list of referees at the age of 17 in 1996-97. Since then I have received a lot of help from other sources such as Clive Norling, Rob Yeman (current manager of match officials in Wales) and Ken Rowlands to name but a few. Derek Bevan has also put a lot of work and coaching into me as a young referee pointing me in the right direction, making sure I am not becoming a robot of any sorts but being an individual and enjoying each game as it comes.
"In addition to the above one of our full time referees, Hugh Watkin, has an active role as mentor. I regularly speak to him for advice and we meet up to review DVDs of games.
"My wife Rhian has probably the most important role in my career development as she ensures my kit is in tip top clean condition and is very supportive looking after our son when I am away on long trips. One of the few down sides to refereeing at a high level unfortunately is the amount of time away from the family."
Rhian gave birth to their first son in January 2006 and named him Osian John Jones. They are Welsh all right, though James is only now learning Welsh - along with a bit of French. And he has a "proper" job. An honours graduate in law from the University of Glamorgan he is currently a manager in the legal department of Diamond Car Insurance. He says: "They are extremely supportive of my travel commitments."
Progress? "I have gradually progressed through the domestic national leagues earning a tough apprenticeship as a young referee coming across some very difficult local derby games and some very hard players!
"In 2004 I officiated my first Under-18 international between England and Scotland and have since refereed several Under-19 internationals (including matches at the IRB Under-19 World Championships in 2005 in Durban) and Under-21 internationals at Six Nations level, including England vs France this year.
"I am currently on the IRB World Sevens series as a referee, having taken over from Nigel Owens in 2005, and referee regular Magners League games along with European Challenge Cup matches.
"Undoubtedly the Sevens series has aided my development in a huge way as I have travelled as far afield as Hong Kong and officiated in front of 30-40 thousand fans, coming across several players who have gone on to reach full Test match level. The pace of the game is very intense and whilst it is a totally different game to 15-a-side it has aided me in speed of thought and decision making for 15s. It has also given me important direct exposure to IRB officials, raising profile and allowing me to meet directly with Paddy O'Brien, the IRB's manager of referees.
"Whilst I have not refereed any IRB test match rugby the highlight of may career to date is touch judging my first test match (Italy vs Argentina) in 1995. In addition to this refereeing the England vs South Africa semi-final at the George Sevens in 2006 was very intense and, with a great South African crowd an excellent experience. Naturally I am looking forward to this weekend's fixture in Prague to add to my short list of achievements."
He has two friends to go with him to Ricany as his touch judges - Lynn Davies and Gregg Morgan. The three live close to each other and will gather in Swansea and drive the hour and a half across the Severn Bridge to Bristol, from where they will fly to Ricany.
"Gregg used to teach me in Gorseinon College before he started refereeing. Because of my upstanding rugby talent I was either reserve for the seconds or he would find an excuse more than often to get me to referee! This is the first representative game for Gregg.
"Lynn is a veteran amongst the referees and has been on several trips away with me. He has refereed a Students international and is at premier level within Wales - a valued member of our referee list and a very, very supportive touch judge, on and off the field."
Role model/hero? "My refereeing role model is Derek Bevan as I admire the way he was so well respected by international players and achieved 44 test matches in times when rugby was not played as often at Test match level as it is now. To my mind he was one of the few referees that enjoyed every match as it came and had a great rapport with the players. I feel in the modern game the humour and camaraderie between players and referees is dying out, perhaps understandably as the game turns more and more professional, but to my mind this is a shame.
Referee Goals? "Realistically I am taking things step by step and enjoying each challenge and reward as it comes. I have met many good friends along the way and hope to continue to make more and travel more. My approach to a match is to take each game as it comes and give each game the respect it deserves, in addition treating each trip away like my first as it could be my last!
My immediate goal is to move on to the IRB touch judge panel hopefully securing a full-time professional contract with the Welsh Rugby Union and subsequently reaching the IRB's panel of referees. Thereafter I aim to go to the 2011 World Cup as a referee. Obviously my ultimate goal would be to follow 'Bev' to referee a World Cup final; in addition to this, from a very young age my dream has been to referee a Bledisloe Cup match facing the formidable All Black HAKA!
"However, there have been several very successful and well respected test referees that have not made a World Cup final so should I come anywhere near my fellow countrymen (most recently Clayton Thomas, 'Bev', Nigel Williams, Nigel Whitehouse, etc) I will finish refereeing a very, very happy man with many happy stories for the grandchildren!"