Over the next few years, the Welsh Rugby Union has big plans to boost its exile program in a bid to win back the loyalty of dual-qualified players.
The program will focus mainly on persuading players to return from England or other home countries, no doubt looking for the next Taine Plumtree in the southern hemisphere. But the WRU could also consider turning its attention to Japan’s Shizuoka prefecture on the Pacific coast.
If they venture that way, they will run into Richard Goh Jones, assistant to the Shizuoka Blue Revs, who compete in Japan Rugby League One, the premier rugby competition in the Far East. Jones was born and raised in Japan but qualified for Wales through his father David Jones.
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“My name is Richard after my grandfather who was Welsh,” Jones tells WalesOnline. “He was from Pontcymer near Bridgend and that’s where I got my Welsh blood from.
“My dad David came to Japan to teach English at university. Then he met my mom Akiaa in Japan and decided to stay here.
“I’ve been to Wales before and the last time was about 12 years ago. I just remember it was so quiet compared to the cities in Japan and there were a lot of sheep!
“I remember that, there was a lot of countryside, a lot of rain and a lot of sheep.
“My dad is a big rugby fan. He was always watching the games, the World Cup, and he was always shouting the F-word towards the TV.”
Rugby is not the number one sport in Shizuoka, but it is still popular enough for Jones’ team to occasionally attract crowds of over 8,000. Jones plays in the back row for Shizuoka Blue Revs and has been a regular starter for the past two seasons, with the 25-year-old crediting his father for introducing him to rugby.
“In terms of my rugby background, I played football until I was 12,” he said. “Then I just got bored and the nearby high school I was going to had this little rugby club.
“My dad, also an ex-rugby player, used to watch rugby every week. I wasn’t really interested in it until then, but one day I happened to watch it and fell in love with it.
“I asked my dad, what kind of sport is this? He said it was rugby and that’s how I got into rugby.
“I was about 12 or 13. From then on, I just kept playing rugby. When I started playing, I didn’t know any of the players and I didn’t understand the position I was playing. But as time went on, I understood the game more and more.
“As a university captain over the last few years I have been really inspired by Sam Warburton, not only as a rugby player but also as a captain. The way he led the team with such confidence and his general understanding of the sport really inspired me.” considering what kind of player I wanted to be.
“So Sam Warburton was a player who inspired me a lot.
In Japanese rugby, most indigenous players are semi-professional and work for their club’s parent companies. The system is set up so that players have a career or job to fall back on after finishing rugby. In Jones’ case, he works for Yamaha as an interpreter.
“I sit in the office in front of the computer and translate sheets that will be used in negotiations and things that will be used to inform people abroad,” he said. “I will translate it into English.
“Also, if something comes from abroad, I translate it into Japanese. I think I’m just starting as a rugby player and my goal is to become an international rugby player.”
Jones is making waves for Shizuoka Blue Revs, who finished eighth in the 12-man Japan Rugby League One, winning six and losing eight games. The backrower’s performances were so impressive that he won the prestigious Golden Shoulder award, given to the best tackler and chosen by the players.
“I’m not going to do anything really flashy as a player,” he said. “I’m not going to make huge gains, I’m not going to score every game and I’m not that polished of a player. I wish I could be, but I quickly realized I’m not going to be.” .
“I guess I’d describe myself as a player who’s always there and always going through that phase that hurts. I’m not going to like it, but I’m going to do it.”
“That’s the type of player I want to be as well. My strength is my tackling.
“I like the physical side of the game, getting stuck in and doing a lot of work. That’s the main reason I fell in love with rugby in the first place, the physicality.”
Jones is fortunate to have been mentored by South Africa’s two-time Rugby World Cup winner Kwagga Smith, while former All Blacks Charles Piutau and Bryn Hall are also his teammates. “It’s a very surreal thing because Charles and Kwagga are two players I would never have imagined playing with a few years ago,” he said.
“I have a lot to learn from them but I will take this opportunity to learn from them. It’s just a very good environment to be in, especially to play with someone like Kwagga who plays the same position as me .”
“I have so much to learn from him, not just his rugby side but his mentality. I have so much to learn.”
“I also played against Liam Williams. I took a picture with him after the game and I was like ‘Damn, I’ve been watching this guy play on TV.’ It was surreal.”
And now to the key question; if jones ever gets the chance to play test rugby, would he like to represent japan or wales? “I knew this question was coming, so I’ve been thinking about it all week,” he said.
“Ideally I was born and raised in Japan for over 20 years, if I get picked for Japan then great. But as someone who is able to represent both countries, to be called up by Wales would be a great honour.”