Shane Williams’ column: Absolute honour to play with a true great like Ryan Jones

Ryan JonesOf the hundreds of memories I cherish from playing with Ryan Jones for the , and the , there is one that always brings a tear to the eye and, I think, characterises the great man.
We had just run out at the Millennium Stadium ahead of my last game for Wales and lined up for the national anthems. It had been an emotional week for me, knowing it would be the last time I'd play for Wales, but I'd kept everything together pretty well in training and in the dressing room.
As players, we faced the crowd and listened to Advance Fair and then wrapped our arms around each other ahead of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau.
I wasn't sure how I was going to feel over the next couple of minutes as the crowd boomed out the Welsh anthem, but as the band struck up Ryan put his arm around me, tapped me on the head and said: “It has been an absolute honour playing with you – enjoy the moment.”
That was it – the tears started to flow, all the pent-up emotion of the past week came bursting out and it got me ready to play. That was Ryan in a nutshell – a brilliant reader of his men, a fantastic motivator and a man who always led by example.
I never got the chance to do the same for him, but when we met this week at the 50th anniversary of the Grogg Shop in shortly after he had announced his retirement I was able to congratulate him on an incredible career.
Ryan Jones will go down in history as one of the true greats of the game, a man who led from the front, always put his team first and who won three Grand Slams. He was also at the heart of everything that was good about the Ospreys over their first decade.
As a captain he was always very vocal, yet never read the riot act to his players or shouted in your face. He always made you believe you could win any game and loved nothing better than to bring on the youngsters.
At the Ospreys he was a key influence on the Wales stars of today such as Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric, Rhys Webb, and Ashley Beck as they came through the ranks. Not just on the field, but also off it in the way they prepared for games in training and linked with the supporters.
Ryan was very much a man of the people, someone to whom everyone warmed, respected and looked up to. He was blessed with that common touch and an ability to make you believe in him through his words and actions.
When the history of Welsh rugby is re-written in 2031 for the 150th anniversary of the WRU the name of Ryan Jones will be one of those that dominated the early part of the 21st century, as towering a figure as many of the giants of the previous Golden Eras.
As for the Ospreys, he was instrumental in formulating the ethos, culture and spirit that has helped to make it the most successful region in Wales and one of the best teams in Europe. He hated leaving the club, and felt he still had more to offer, but he will forever be one of the most respected members of the ‘Ospreys Family'.
Good players are remembered for a short while after they have hung up their boots, but the greats of the game simply get better and better as time passes by after retirement.
Ryan Jones will be one of those you hear a lot more of in the future and who will never be forgotten.

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