Welsh caps – and now pro playing for Haverfordwest twins!

Carwyn and Llewelyn Jones are twins who started out their rugby careers with Haverfordwest before joining Llanelli for a while and then moving to London at the start of last season as full-time professionals with Ealing RFC.
 
Now aged 22, with Carwyn standing at 6'6" and Llewelyn just an inch shorter, weighing in respectively at 18 and a half stone and 18 stone, the giant pair have helped Ealing win the Division One title last season and are now competing in the Championship against the likes of former top clubs Rosslyn Park, Richmond and Coventry.
 
Early start at Haverfordwest
 
It all seems a long way away from the time that Carwyn and Llewelyn started out with a Haverfordwest U8s team coached by Andy Curtis and Steve Barnett,  right through to the time that they dominated the lineout with Haverfordwest Youth and STP School, where a team that included the twins alongside Will Curtis, Luke Harvatt, Daniel Morgan and Gareth Thomas rarely lost a game. At every turn they were fully encouraged by parents Kate and Graham, who represented Wales in karate, whilst their grandfather, Paul Andrews, was keen on cricket and football.
 
At youth level Dai Llewellin coached them to league and cup silverware and both represented the Welsh Association of Boys Clubs, with Carwyn playing as lock but Llewelyn switching to No 8. There were rumours of interest from the Ospreys but the Jones twins joined the agency stable of former Welsh internationals Derwyn Jones and Rob Appleyard, who negotiated Academy contracts at Parc y Scarlets for Carwyn (two years) and Llewelyn (three years).
 

 
Llewelyn was selected for Wales U18s at Cross Keys but suffered a terrible blow at the kick off as he jumped to take the ball, landed awkwardly and broke his tibia and fibula, an injury which sadly kept him out for the rest of the season.
 
Carwyn missed out on selection in that age group but more than made up for his disappointment at U20s level as he was selected for the Welsh team to play in the World Cup in France. It was a great experience and after Wales beat hosts France and Argentina they lost in the final to England!
 
Carwyn made his first team debut for the Scarlets in the LCV Cup, playing the last 20 minutes but then he spent some time playing for Llandovery in the Welsh Premiership, where they finished second to Pontypridd side at the peak of their power. At the same time, Llewelyn was playing most of his rugby for Carmarthen Quins, who made it to the play-off semi-finals before bowing out to Cross Keys.

 
It was after this that their big adventure started when Rob Appleyard contacted them in pre-season to say that Ealing had been very impressed by video clips on 'You Tube' of both twins playing and he had received an offer of a year's contract for both of them to sign as full time professionals.
 
It meant they had to find a place to live but this was soon achieved with the club’s help.
"It was really nice to feel we were regarded as front-line players in a squad coached by Ben Ward, with Kevin Power coaching the forwards and Paddy Gill doing yeoman work as the skills coach and helping us both a great deal," admitted Carwyn.

 
"The pre-season training was tough," added Carwyn, "but it was worth it as we beat Newport and Bedford in friendlies before dominating the league to such an extent that we only lost two matches all season."
 
"What made it even better was the fact that our band of supporters were so vociferous, even at away games, that it was a pleasure to be playing - and when the Championship's 'best team' was chosen by all the clubs, Llewelyn was selected in it"
 

 
Carwyn wasn't quite so full of praise for brother Llewelyn, however, when he related another story.
"I wasn't quite so happy, though, when Llewelyn gave away a penalty at a ruck and after a loud blast from the referee's whistle I was show the yellow card, not my brother!"
 
The euphoria of that hugely successful season was followed with the good news that both twins were offered another year's contract and were joined by an influx of players with experience of the top level like Chris York (Newcastle), Aled Davies and Tristan Roberts (London Welsh), plus Callum Wilson and Sam Stanley (England U21s).
 

 
"We lost to Coventry and beat Pontypridd in pre-season friendlies and inevitably the matches are hard-fought as our aim is to consolidate in this division. But there are promising signs as we lost by only three points to Bristol after having two tries disallowed, and we beat London Welsh, and then London Scottish over the Christmas period in front of a sell-out crowd at Richmond Park!"
 
There have also been individual moments for the boys to remember because Llewelyn actually captained Ealing in the British & Irish Cup against Rotherham, whilst Carwyn received the 'man of the match' award for his performance against Gloucester A!
 

 
Ealing play at Vallis Way on Ealing Broadway, a leafy area that seems a million miles from the city centre of London but within easy travelling reach for the Jones' boys. Their weekly schedule starts early on Monday morning with screening sessions by the medical staff, who asses factors like fatigue and any injuries, with the dreaded ice baths on offer.
 
"We do a little gym work and then have our team review of the weekend's match, raise points by coaches and players, review the video analysis of the play and finish off with a meal we are all expected to attend.
 
"Tuesday is the toughest day of the week, with a full training session, starting at 8am, of fierce contact work that is very demanding because all the players know they are competing for their places. We also do some increased gym work and round off again with a meal at 3pm.
 

 
Wednesday is a day off for Carwyn, Llewelyn and the rest of the Ealing squad but the twins usually do some recovery work, like going for a leisurely swim in the nearby pool where they have membership, or doing some stretching work to keep supple.
 
Thursday is a lighter day which deals with more analysis of the forthcoming match and some gym work, followed by the selected team and replacements doing their run through of tactics and set-piece plays.
 
Friday is the total relaxation day where Llewelyn and Carwyn look to do something totally unrelated to rugby, like meeting up with sister Angharad (whose twin Bethan lives in Haverfordwest) for a coffee, going for a long walk in the park, visiting the city's famous museums or going to the theatre as part of their being 'culture vultures'!

 
Saturday is usually the 'big day' where the Jones' boys aim to be at the ground by 1pm for a 3pm start - and afterwards the squad is expected to mingle in the bar with their hardy supporters. They also enjoy a regular chat with Ealing owner Mike Gooley (who owns the 'Trailfinders' company) and his wife Fiona, both of whom love their rugby..
 
"We are usually pretty sore from the huge impacts over 80 minutes so Sunday is a total rest day, usually watching TV from the comfort of the sofa, and preparing for the start of another week with Ealing RFC!"
 
It was smashing to catch up with Carwyn and Llewelyn Jones on a recent short visit home and we wish the Jones' twins further success at Ealing because they really are a credit to their family, Haverfordwest and Pembrokeshire!