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Three-time Grand Slam winner Ryan Jones embarks on arduous isolation fund-raising challenge

By Online Editors
(Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Ex-Wales Grand Slam winner Ryan Jones has come up with a novel way to raise funds for his local area health board – running a marathon in his garden. 

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Confined to home due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 39-year-old Welsh Rugby Union performance director is ready to see if his body has what it takes to complete the gruelling task this Saturday and raise some funds for a good cause.

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Supporting a campaign to raise extra resources for the Swansea Bay University LHB charitable fund, the 2005, 2008 and 2012 Grand Slam champion has set up a Just Giving page that has already raised more than he initially envisaged. 

Jones set a modest total of £500 as his target but he has already raised five times that amount with a day still to go before his marathon run.

Outlining what he is up to, Jones said: “Like many, I am confined to my home and as this situation plays out before me, I am just amazed at the strength of the human spirit and the generosity of so many.

“Those giving of their time not because it’s a job but because they care, those putting the risk to their own health to one side because they care you truly are an inspiration and I just wanted to try and support you.

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“I can’t do a lot and I certainly haven’t really thought this one through. I’m hoping I can raise £500 for my local NHS trust by running a marathon in my garden this Saturday – it’s in the region of 700 lengths. I’ll let you know when I finish.

“It’s my intention to re-instate my Instagram and will try to post throughout – ryanjonesonline.”

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Bull Shark 2 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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