B. L. Jones
Born 11 April 1931, Gorseinon, Wales
270th player to be capped by the Royal Navy Rugby Union
3 caps
Played against the Army in 1950
Played against the Royal Air Force 1950, 1951
Inter Service Record
Played 3 Won 1 Drew 1 Lost 1
Inter Service Titles 1
1950 Royal Navy 6 Army 16
1950 Royal Navy 6 Royal Air Force 6
1951 Royal Navy 6 Royal Air Force 5
Clubs
Llanelli
Neath
Devonport Services
Leeds (Rugby League)
Lewis Jones’ rugby union career was short before he moved over to join the Leeds rugby league team in 1952. As a rugby league man he his rightly lauded as one of the best of all time. However even in his short union career he achieved some notable feats.
In 1950 he was flown out to join the British Lions on their Australia and New Zealand tour. The team had travelled by ship and Lewis became the first Lion to travel by air. He also became their youngest tourist being a few days younger than fellow tourist, Welshman and Navy man, Malcolm Thomas.
He played ten matches for Wales as a fullback, centre or wing and three test matches for the Lions. His selection by Wales seemed to have confused the young Lewis and it is obvious that the Welsh selectors did not watch many matches at Devonport Services so clearly selected on a degree of hearsay. Lewis Jones described the incident in his own words when speaking with the RFU which can be viewed here.