Wales prop Adam Jones signs two-year Ospreys contract
- Published
Jones will be at the Ospreys until the summer of 2014
Wales prop Adam Jones has signed a new two-year deal with the Ospreys to keep him at the region until 2014.
It ends months of speculation that the Lions tight-head prop was to follow former team-mates Mike Phillips and to France.
Jones, 30, was out of contract at the end of the 2011/12 season.
"I'm delighted to have sorted out a new deal, which means that I'll continue playing for my home region for another two years," said Jones.
"This is where I always wanted to be next season and now it's all done, I just want to get on with the job, which is to help the Ospreys be the best we can be.
"As part of the contract discussions we spoke at length about the direction the Ospreys are taking, with the changes that are taking place, and I'm genuinely excited about the future, for the region and for myself personally."
It is a big bonus for the Ospreys, halting a trend for players such as Phillips, Hook and moving to France, especially just weeks after the Welsh regions agreed to a salary cap from next season, and just days after another Lions, Shane Williams, announced his retirement.
But Jones, who launched his testimonial year in January, has been ever-present at the Ospreys since the inception of regional rugby in 2003 after starting his professional career with Neath.
"I've been a part of the region for a long time, first at Neath and then with the Ospreys, and although I've done a lot of things, there is still plenty I want to achieve with the Ospreys," added the 76-times capped front-rower.
"I'm still ambitious, as are the Ospreys, and I'm excited about what we could achieve together over the coming seasons."
Ospreys chief operations officer Andrew Hore highlighted the importance of the Jones signing to the region.
"Adam has been, and continues to be, a fantastic servant for the Ospreys.
"As you would imagine given his status as one of the leading tight-heads in world rugby, there was considerable interest in his services, but the fact that we have been able to keep hold of him is a huge positive for the region.
"It's important that we keep hold of individuals who want to take us forward as a region, who display the right values and characteristics to help us achieve that, demand the highest standards of both themselves and their colleagues, and have a desire to succeed. Adam certainly fits the bill on all those scores.
"He epitomises everything that we stand for. As a homegrown player proud to represent his region who has been developed from within to become such a fine."