Jones admits he's 'blown away' by life with Moana Pasifika

FORMER Wales captain Stephen Jones says he has been “blown away” by life in New Zealand as he prepares to try and make history with Moana Pasifika.

- Stephen Jones

The ex-fly-half has been an assistant coach at the Super Rugby Pacific side since November 2023 and, working under former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga, has helped to turn around the club's fortunes.

While they finished bottom of the table for two successive seasons before Jones’ arrival, Moana Pasifika are now targeting a play-off place for the first time ever.

Having put last weekend's bruising 85-7 defeat to the Chiefs behind them, Umaga’s side know that a win over the Hurricanes this weekend could well be enough to put them through to the play-offs after a season that has seen them spring more than a few surprises in the league.

Jones - who previously served as Wales’ attack coach under Wayne Pivac but was deemed surplus to requirements when Warren Gatland returned to the role at the end of 2022 - has been right at the heart of the team’s success over the course of the campaign.

However, while he has been able to pass on his expertise from a decorated career that saw him win 104 Wales caps and play six times for the British & Irish Lions, the 47-year-old admits that he is continuing to learn new things by immersing himself in the southern hemisphere way of playing and coaching.