Mark Jones dead at 59: Wales rugby star dies after heart attack in gym as touching tributes paid to ‘giant’

FORMER Wales rugby international Mark Jones has died suddenly at the age of 59.

Wales Rugby League said Jones died of a heart attack while training at a gym in the Middle East.

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Jones began his senior rugby career in union with local side Tredegar Ironsides before joining Tredegar RFC, then on to Neath in 1985 - at the time one of the powerhouses of Welsh rugby.

Neath said news of the death of their former player had left the club "heartbroken" and paid tribute to "a real force of nature".

The WRL said in a statement that Jones, who played for Great Britain, had died in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

Wales Online reports that Jones had been training in a gym in the country he has called home since moving there in 2005.

Speaking on behalf of the WRL in a statement, former coach Clive Griffiths said: “Scooby [Jones] was a giant in both codes.

“He was part and parcel of that great era of Welsh rugby league until rugby union went back professional in 1995.

"From 1991-95, he was an ever-present in the Welsh squad.

Jones played internationally for Wales in both codes.

He made his Wales debut in union against Scotland at Murrayfield in March 1987, aged just 21, scoring a late try on debut in a 21-15 defeat.

Jones’ league career saw him play for Hull and Warrington, while in union he represented the likes of Neath and Ebbw Vale.

He was known for his brutal physicality during his playing days, and was sent off six times and banned for 33 weeks for violent conduct.

Jones played 15 times for Wales between 1987 and 1990 before switching to rugby league with Hull.

After retiring in 2005, he coached before moving to Qatar to work as a lab technician at the Abu Dhabi international school.

“Everybody loved him as a man first and foremost. I recently read his book and it’s just so interesting to read about his life."

And tributes have immediately started flooded in.

One rugby fan wrote: "Far too young. Condolences to his family."

Another said: "One of the all time great Welsh players. RIP ❤."

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