Bala Jones

John "Bala" Jones was a Wales international rugby union scrum-half who played club rugby for Aberavon and Devonport Albion RFC and county rugby for Glamorgan and Devon. He won just a single international cap, in 1901.

Rugby career There is little information recorded about Jones, and no place of birth is recorded with the Welsh Rugby Union, though his nickname of "Bala" could refer to the town of Bala, as this was a common way to differentiate people with the surname Jones in Wales. He is recorded at being five foot five inches in height.

In 1897 Jones moved to Devon, and continued playing rugby, representing Devonport Albion and later the Devon county team. The Welsh Rugby Union, believed that Jones was taking payment for playing and declared him a professional player, which would prevent him playing under the union code for the rest of his career. Jones challenged the decision and was later reinstated as an amateur. England 1901