Cardiff Rugby’s former long-serving lead doctor - Dr Gareth Jones - has been named in the King’s Birthday Honours list.
The sports physician has enjoyed a medical career spanning more than four decades and has been involved in Welsh elite sport since the 1990s.
Dr Jones, who initially studied medicine at Welsh National School of Medicine in the 1970s, linked up with the Blue and Blacks in 2012, following a decade with the Ospreys.
He still provides cover for current Lead Doctor Daniel Vaughan and acts as a match-day doctor for both the BKT United Rugby Championship and the WRU at the Principality Stadium.
And he has now been awarded an MBE for services to sport and exercise medicine.
Dr Jones said: “It is as much of a surprise to me as any one else. I received an official looking letter that turned out to be from the Cabinet Office five or six weeks ago. It didn’t really register until the second time of reading and even then I had to triple check the name and address. I just couldn’t believe what I was reading.
“I have already been so privileged to do what I have within academia and sport. Being in the changing rooms with Cardiff, Wales or one of the age-grade teams is a real honour. It’s not something many people are lucky enough to experience.
“Five Commonwealth Games with Wales and being made Chief Medical Officer. All of these things have been the amazing, I have already lived the honour, but to have this recognition is great and something I really appreciate.”
Everyone at Cardiff Rugby would like to congratulate Gareth on this richly deserved award. You can read more about his incredible career in a previous interview published in the Cardiff v Ulster programme from 2020 below.
