The 35-year-old Welshman has been a focal point of both Quins and the UAE national team for nearly 10 years living in the Emirates, and he claims he won’t retire while the passion to play continues to burn bright.
The Quins prop admits the Zayed Sports City-based club is in his blood and that there’s plenty of life left in him, especially after returning to a now more competitive Quins line-up than ever at the start of the new season.
“I had an injury in January that ended my season so I’m trying to make up for lost time and play as many games as I can this season, and then I’ll make a call on my future at the end of the season,” said the veteran forward.
“I’m still enjoying it though. I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t. I think the moment you’re not disappointed to be dropped or the moment you miss a weekend and don’t feel disappointed that’s the moment to retire, and I don’t feel ready at the moment.
“When that happens (not picked) I’m gutted so I’m still keen to be involved. We’ve got a great squad, lots of depth. The second team and baa baas are pushing the guys wearing the first team jersey so we’re a really healthy club at the moment. There’s still life in the old dog yet.”
Expat life in the UAE is a transient existence so Jones-Griffiths’ near decade-long existence at Quins make him quite the anomoly.
And he spoke of his fondness for the club which has become his family as he approaches 10 years with Quins.
Former @Abudhabiquins coach Jeremy Manning given top #Fiji honour after #Rugby7s success https://t.co/iFHqbLDDZD pic.twitter.com/35csqIjlgC
— Sport360° (@Sport360) August 25, 2016
“The club is very much in me,” added a man who is the UAE’s most-capped player ever with 23 appearances. “I’ve been here a while, I’m going into my ninth season. It’s a big part of me. When you’re an expat and you move to different parts of the world and a rugby player in particular, the rugby club becomes your family.
“It’s been a huge part of my world. My son’s signed up to the Under-5s this year so the next generation is coming through too. He’s half English, half Welsh but I’ll be pushing for Wales. But he was born in the UAE too so they’ll be second choice.”
Quins have long been at the forefront of success in domestic UAE rugby, although they were overshadowed by Dubai Exiles in 2015/16 as they announced their re-emergence by winning both the West Asia Championship and UAE Premiership.
It put Quins’ defence of the Gulf Men’s League title at the 2015 Dubai Rugby Sevens somewhat in the shade, and Jones-Griffiths admits his desire to keep playing is intertwined with wanting to help Quins drop last season’s bridesmaids tag.
“Last season was disappointing but we’ve been there before, we were bridesmaids to Dragons twice, but it does hurt, especially when you put in the hard yards all season,” he said. “We’re moving into the rest of the season very confident so we’ll see what happens.”
