Concussion threatens Carwyn's French idyll

Carwyn Jones has been playing rugby professionally since the season before he appeared in the only World Cup final between Wales and England, the junior version eight years ago. From hometown Haverfordwest, Jones’ career began moving in an easterly direction to Llanelli where the 18-year-old lock signed a contract with the Scarlets. It went on moving eastwards, to London and then across the Channel to France.

- PETER JACKSON

After two seasons as a Trailfinder at Ealing, he ended up in a walled city so old that its foundations date back to Julius Caesar and the Roman Empire.

Vannes in southern Brittany used to be a long way off the beaten track in a rugby sense but Jones’ time there has coincided with the club’s inspiring rise to the very summit of Pro Deux. A thumping win at Angouleme on Friday night hoisted them one point clear of Perpignan at the top with nine games to go.

In readiness for the giddy challenge of being the first Breton club to join the Top 14 elite, Vannes made an early decision to extend Jones’ contract through to the end of next season. The locals love him, not least because he speaks to them in their language with a fluency which would put other British players to shame.

All being well, Jones would put the Welsh flag back at the highest level of the French game, its lone standard-bearer given that Jamie Roberts, Mike Phillips, Dan Lydiate, Rhys Webb and company have long since decamped.

All, however, is not well. Jones, 28 last Tuesday, has not played since Vannes made the long journey south to Colomiers on January 7. Sadly, there is a real danger that he will not play again because of concussion.