The Ospreys have confirmed that Adam Jones has signed a new three-year contract.
The 28 year-old Jones has ended speculation about his future by putting pen to paper on a new deal that keeps him at the Liberty Stadium until the end of the 2011/12 season.
Currently on the sidelines after suffering a dislocated shoulder during the second test between the British & Irish Lions and South Africa in the summer, the former Abercrave youngster is targeting a return to action on Boxing Day, when the Ospreys travel across the Loughor Bridge to face the Scarlets.
Speaking after signing his contract, Adam said: “It’s nice to sign a contract while I’m still out injured, it means that I can just focus on the next two months and being back playing just before Christmas without this hanging over me. The Ospreys could have said to me that they wanted to see how my shoulder mended before committing to a contract so it’s great to see that they’ve got the faith in me and I want to reward that faith.
“I’ve been around for a while now, first at Neath, and then with the Ospreys since the start, but there’s still a lot that I want to achieve here. There’s a lot more to come from me and from the Ospreys, which is why it’s pleasing to have at least another three years.
“We’ve got a good squad in place, Scott Johnson is having a positive influence with his fresh ideas, and I think everything is heading in the right direction. It’s probably been a good time for me to sign a contract, after a pretty good season that was rounded off with the Lions, but to be honest, there’s only one place that I want to be playing rugby. Now I can just get on with the real business which is helping to make the Ospreys successful.”
Having come through the ranks with Neath RFC, Jones was part of the Ospreys squad for the inaugural 2003/04 season and featured in the region’s first ever competitive fixture, a 41-30 win over Ulster in the Celtic League. He made his international debut against England in the same year, and now has 56 Welsh caps to his credit, having been a key figure in two Grand Slam campaigns. He was capped twice by the Lions in the summer, making an enormous impact before being forced out in the second test with the shoulder injury that has kept him out of action so far this season.
Ospreys Head Coach, Sean Holley, added: “At a time when there is a real shortage in quality tight heads at the top level of the game, for Adam to commit himself to the region until 2012 is fantastic news for the Ospreys. We are delighted that he sees his future here, and that he believes that we can help him to achieve the goals that he still has for his career.
“The region has put a lot of resources into Adam’s career development over the years, and he has more than repaid that, in recent times in particular. Adam is a local boy who takes great pride from playing for his home region, and I’ve no doubt that the prospect of being part of such a tight knit group of players that we have here at the Ospreys was a major factor in him committing himself to the Ospreys again despite the understandable interest from elsewhere in such a quality player.”
