FORMER Wales rugby worldwide Mark Jones has died instantly on the age of 59.

Wales Rugby League mentioned Jones suffered a coronary heart assault whereas coaching at a health club within the Center East.

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The previous dual-code worldwide performed 15 occasions for Wales’ rugby union group, whereas he additionally featured 11 occasions for his nation’s league group – additionally successful one cap for Nice Britain within the 13-a-side.

Throughout his enjoying days for Neath and Ebbw Vale in union, in addition to Hull FC and Warrington, Jones was identified for his brutal physicality.

Neath mentioned information of the loss of life of their former participant had left the membership “heartbroken” and paid tribute to “an actual drive of nature”.

The WRL mentioned in an announcement that Jones, who additionally performed as soon as for Nice Britain, tragically handed away in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

Wales On-line studies that Jones had been coaching in a health club within the nation he has referred to as house since transferring there in 2005.

Talking on behalf of the WRL in an announcement, former coach Clive Griffiths mentioned: “Scooby [Jones] was an enormous in each codes.

“He was half and parcel of that nice period of Welsh rugby league till rugby union went again skilled in 1995.

“For me, it’s like shedding one of many household. We’re so tight as a gaggle, the group of 1995, and we’re at all times in contact. It’s tough to clarify the depth of feeling from that group of gamers proper now.”

Jones made his union debut towards Scotland at Murrayfield in March 1987, aged simply 21, scoring a late attempt on debut in a 21-15 defeat.

He performed union for Wales between 1987 and 1990 earlier than switching to rugby league with Hull in 1990.

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After that, he suffered a sequence of ankle accidents that originally restricted his time on the pitch for Hull.

He was a part of a Welsh exodus as gamers from the novice union sport flocked to the skilled code .

Jones finally received 11 caps within the 13-man sport, together with two throughout a well-known 1995 World Cup marketing campaign the place Wales reached the semi-finals.

After 4 years with Hull, that includes at prop and second row, Jones joined Warrington for a season earlier than returning to union with Ebbw Vale.

Throughout his profession, he was despatched off six occasions and banned for over 33 weeks for violent conduct.

After retiring in 2005, he coached earlier than transferring to Qatar to work as a lab technician on the Abu Dhabi worldwide faculty.

“Everyone beloved him as a person at the beginning. I not too long ago learn his ebook and it’s simply so attention-grabbing to examine his life.”

And tributes have instantly began to flood in.

One rugby fan wrote: “Far too younger. Condolences to his household.”

One other mentioned: “One of many all time nice Welsh gamers. RIP ❤.”

Jones additionally handled a stammer, which he admitted after retiring led to him being full of “self-loathing and hate” – leading to doing, as he put it, “loads of dangerous issues” on the sector.