Player’s Blog – Rob Jones

Right – where do I start with this coronavirus blog… I suppose it came as a huge culture shock to everyone to start with, all those months ago being told to stay in our homes and quarantine. It seemed like something you only hear of in films. During the first lockdown I struggled a little as I live alone but luckily I’ve got a great group of friends and family around me who I suppose kept me sane through the whole ordeal!

Employment for me has been constant all the way through, as I work for Wales & West Utilities and we still have to attend to gas emergencies 24/7 so at least I was able to get out of the house for work purposes.

At the start of the lockdown I borrowed my dad’s bike and just got active working my way up the mountains. Living in Treorchy was perfect as I have mountains surrounding me with great incline tracks I could ride. I later bought my own bike as I enjoyed it so much. I was then able to get some single track riding in and if you’ve seen my Instagram page, you’ll know I wasn’t very good at it!

More recently I’ve bizarrely got into some long-distance running (long distance for a front row player in any case) getting up to half marathon distance with one of my mates, so that has been good to see how I’m progressing. I have also had a Personal Trainer for the past month and a half who has been putting me through my paces with the result that I have seen my strength increase massively so I’m in a good place considering all that has happened!

My hope is that we can get back to playing rugby and socialising as soon as possible. My weekends still don’t feel the same without a game on a Saturday afternoon. I’m definitely not missing the sore body after it mind!

I think rugby and sport in general has such a positive impact on people’s lives, it’s one of those things you really look forward to, whether it’s playing or spectating with your mates and I know how much the Ponty faithful will want to get back in those stands and cheer us on more than ever.

Its been a long time coming but on this week’s news there is finally some light at the end of the tunnel with the covid vaccine on its way, so fingers crossed for a return to normality soon.

Rob Jones