The mid Walian is heading into his first full season in charge of the Ospreys

19:00, 26 Sep 2025Updated 19:42, 26 Sep 2025

Ospreys head coach Mark Jones(Image: Geraint Nicholas/Huw Evans Agency)

Ospreys head coach Mark Jones has revealed why he turned down an opportunity with Wales to focus on turning the Ospreys‘ fortunes around.

Last season was a tricky one for the club, with the announcement of Toby Booth’s departure a year in advance at the start of the campaign seemingly affecting form. That brought forward the ascension of former Wales wing Jones earlier than expected, after Booth departed in December.

Form improved under the mid Walian, but not enough to get back to the United Rugby Championship play-offs.

With no permanent successor to Warren Gatland in place before this summer’s tour of Japan, an interim staff to work with Matt Sherratt was needed.

It’s understood Jones was approached about helping out, but instead remained focused on his first pre-season in charge of the Ospreys.

“It was really important,” said Jones about needing to see out his first summer with the Ospreys. “I felt obliged to be in the Ospreys environment in pre-season.

“They gave me an opportunity when I came back from Worcester. I really enjoyed my time as defence coach. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.

“To feel that I would be a good leader for the group, that was a really big honour. There was a lot of speculation around interim jobs.

“For me, it was never in question. I really wanted to be in pre-season. I wanted to be there on day one and be visible for the players.

“I wanted to maximise the best that I can out of the players and staff because it’s the start of the journey. It’s an exciting journey and I’m looking forward to getting into this season.

“The team’s performances towards the end of the season, while they weren’t perfect, we grew in a lot of areas. We’re a good team to watch.

“I think we’re a dangerous team. Without the ball, we’re a handful for opposition. The challenge for us is consistency in those performances.

“It’s a tough thing to do. It’s well-known that the regions’ budgets are low and the result of that is just depth. You have to give opportunities to young players, which I feel passionate about, but I also feel passionate about setting those young players up to succeed and giving them an opportunity to show their point of different with experienced players.

“I’m just hoping we can keep a healthy squad and keep that experience around the young players as I believe they will flourish. I just want to take a step forward this season with the consistency.

“The players are keen to play the brand I want them to. A lot of it has been driven by the players.

“They’ve honed what they want the team to look like and I want to help them bring that to life. Hopefully the supporters will love that.

“We want people to look at the team, be proud of them and love the way they play. If we can do that, results will take care of themselves.”

However, as Jones prepares to start his first full campaign with a clash with the Bulls in Pretoria, he is adamant that the Ospreys can once again scale the heights of two seasons ago, when they reached the URC play-offs.

“In an answer, yes,” he said. “I think we’re a team that if we play to our potential, we can win nine or 10 games.

“History tells you that’s what it takes. When we made the play-offs, we won 10. We won seven with bonus points when we didn’t quite make it last year so the margins are fine.

“We’ve got the potential in the room. It’s a case of making sure we can get our best mix of players out all the time and develop our younger players so they can step up when the international boys are away.

“That’s the challenge all the time. In terms of can we? Yes we can, without a shadow of a doubt.”