BBC presenter Gethin Jones said he was "delighted to wake up with my body intact" after returning to the rugby pitch for the first time in years over the weekend. The Morning Live host, a keen rugby fan and former player, laced up his boots for the first time in more than a decade on Saturday.
Return at Mumbles RFC
Jones took part in the annual Jimmy Crackers' 7s tournament at Mumbles RFC, an event that has been running for over 30 years. A new over-35s touch competition was introduced last year, and it was in this format that Jones made his comeback.
Among those taking part were Wales and British & Irish Lions greats Alun Wyn Jones, Dwayne Peel and James Hook. Jones teamed up with former Welsh scrum-half Lloyd Williams, who retired from professional rugby at the end of last season.
Body intact and community spirit
Sharing photos of himself in action on Instagram, the former Blue Peter presenter praised the "fantastic" event but admitted he was just happy to get through his return unscathed. "Delighted to wake up this morning with my body intact," he wrote. "Yes it was 'touch rugby' but it's been about 15 years since I've chased an egg around! Fantastic community spirit @jimmy_cracker7s!"
Earlier in life, Jones played as a scrum-half for Welsh-speaking side Clwb Rygbi Cymry Caerdydd. He has since admitted he nearly turned professional, having trials with Sale Sharks before walking away from the sport completely.
Quit rugby for Blue Peter
"I quit rugby for Blue Peter," he previously told Rugby Journal. "I probably finished playing too young." He recalled his final match on 12th April 2004, when he returned to play for Clwb Rygbi and won the district cup final at the Principality Stadium in front of about 5,000 people.
"It was special, and every year there's an anniversary where we all bring our tankers that we won in that match to drink out of. I was 26 and that was around the time I started television and so had to quit rugby, not because I was worried about getting smashed up, it was just the nature of the job to travel all the time so never being able to train or be available for matches."
The 48-year-old still has plenty of connections to the rugby world, counting Wales internationals George North, Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies among his close friends, with the former even moving into his flat during the coronavirus lockdowns.
