Ryan Jones
All round funny man and once polled as Wales’ Sexiest Man, Ryan Jones chats to Rugby World about being starstruck, his philosophy on life and wanting to be Superman.
RUGBY WORLD: So who are the jokers in the Wales squad? Have there been any good practical jokes?
RYAN JONES: Rowland Phillips, our defence coach, is the biggest joker. He doesn’t have a serious bone in his body. I did a great practical joke on my mate. He’s a plumber and was going on this training course. I emptied his toolbox and filled it with stones and Bob the Builder’s plastic tool kit. He opened it up in front of everyone on the course – I’m still waiting for him to get me back.
RW: What’s the funniest thing you’ve seen/heard on the pitch?
RJ: I was playing for UWIC once and we were getting pushed back in this scrum. I said to the hooker, ‘Can you take it out of reverse?’ Everyone started laughing.
Making the news, Joking around and Failure…
RW: What are the best and worst headlines you’ve seen about yourself?
RJ: I won Wales’ Sexiest Man the other week, which was strange. I’ve had loads of stick! All the stuff on the Lions tour was good: ‘Ryan the baby Lion’ and ‘Playing with the big boys’ – lots of cheesy ones! I can’t think of the worst headline, but there was a massive article in the Western Mail about how I wasn’t cut out to play for Wales after my first cap.
RW: What’s the craziest thing a fan has ever said to you?
RJ: One weekend I went to this pub in Tenby with four uni friends. It was pretty quiet – there was no music or anything – and this guy shouts across, ‘Oi, Ryan, you’re s**!’ Everyone just started laughing. I was so embarrassed and my mates found it hilarious.
RW: Would you ever cut your hair?
RJ: Long hair’s cool. I don’t want to be boring like everyone else, with short, spiky hair. I want to be a bit different.
RW: What would you like to achieve outside of rugby?
RJ: I’d like to be a Hollywood movie star!
RW: What’s your favourite joke?
RJ: I better say a clean one. Two snowmen in a field, one turns to the other and says, ‘Can you smell carrots?’ He replies, ‘No, but I can see coal.’
RW: What’s your philosophy?
RJ: No regrets.
Bugbears, Cooking, and Immortality…
RW: If your house was on fire, what three things would you save?
RJ: My Groggs – I’ve got six. They’re all of me, but in different jerseys. My filing cabinet – I’ve got everything in that. And memorabilia, like my jerseys and caps.
RW: Who cooks in your house?
RJ: Me. I make a mean chilli and I cook a lot of fresh fish – I often get it off Brent Cockbain. My girlfriend does the cleaning so it’s a fair balance.
RW: What are your bugbears?
RJ: Littering drives me nuts. And what’s with the seats in bus stops you can’t actually sit on, you just sort of lean on.
RW: Do you have any phobias?
RJ: Failure – being out of my depth.
RW: Do you like breast, bum or legs?
RJ: The whole package. Kate from Lost would be my ideal woman. I can’t believe she’s going out with that guy from Lord of the Rings – he’s batting well above his average!
RW: Have you ever been starstruck?
RJ: Every time I have breakfast with Gav!
RW: What’s the most you’ve spent on something apart from a house or car?
RJ: A jetski. I only had it for a year and used to take it down to the beach in Swansea and Tenby, but the club made me get rid of it because of my shoulder. I was a bit upset and I’ll probably get one again when I stop playing – I loved it.
RW: If you could have one superpower what would it be?
RJ: To live forever – I could get a million caps for Wales! I might get a bit lonely though. I’d just like to be Superman.
Take a look at the Welsh team having a go at the crossbar challenge…
Learn more about Ryan’s teammates at Wales…