**Former Wales Coach Stephen Jones Embraces New Beginnings in New Zealand, Offers Insight on British & Irish Lions Tour**
Having swapped the familiar rugby pitches of Wales for the dynamic rugby scene of New Zealand, Stephen Jones, the former national team fly-half and assistant coach, is relishing a fresh chapter that has both reinvigorated his coaching career and shaped his perspective on the global game. Since linking up with Moana Pasifika in late 2023, Jones has not only found professional redemption but has also immersed himself in a unique rugby culture far removed from his roots.
Jones, who amassed 104 caps in Wales colours and represented the British & Irish Lions on six occasions, joined Moana Pasifika as an assistant to head coach Tana Umaga for the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific campaign. The Pacific Islander-backed team had endured a tough start to life in the competition, finishing bottom of the table in successive seasons. However, Jones’s arrival has coincided with a marked turnaround in fortunes, as the side now sets their sights on a potential play-off berth—an unprecedented achievement for the club.
Reflecting on his move, Jones describes life in New Zealand as “blown away” by the environment, speaking enthusiastically about the rugby style in the southern hemisphere. “The talent here to move the ball quickly and find space is remarkable,” he said in a recent interview. “Working with Tana and understanding how to construct an attacking platform that allows these players to express their incredible skills has challenged and educated me in equal measure.”
The resurgence of Moana Pasifika this season has been one of the more compelling stories of Super Rugby Pacific. The club has recovered from a heavy defeat to the Chiefs and now faces the prospect of reaching the play-offs for the first time, if they can secure victory against the Hurricanes. It marks a remarkable transformation for a club that, under Jones’s guidance, has surprised many with their resilience and flair.
Despite boasting a wealth of playing and coaching experience in northern hemisphere rugby, Jones is quick to point out that his current challenge is as much about learning as it is about teaching. “The coaching dynamic is open and collaborative,” he explained. “We regularly bounce ideas off each other—whether it’s Tom Coventry sharing thoughts on forward play, or Seilala Mapusua offering his angle—we’re encouraged to evolve tactics through discussion. It’s a privilege to work in such a healthy environment that pushes us all forward.”
Beyond the rugby pitch, Jones has developed deep appreciation for the cultural fabric of his new home. Moana Pasifika, which draws on Pacific Island heritage alongside Kiwi and Australian talent, has given him a renewed sense of purpose regarding development pathways for young Polynesian players. “Being part of this system, I’m continually amazed by the beauty and strength of Pacific culture,” Jones reflected. “We have a responsibility to nurture young talent, helping them grow as players and as people. I’m proud that we’re able to offer a pathway for youngsters with the chance to represent Samoa or Tonga in the future.”
The team’s improved results against established Australian outfits have also caught the attention of Jones, prompting him to weigh in on the much-anticipated 2025 Lions tour to Australia. While the Wallabies’ well-publicised struggles at the previous Rugby World Cup initially pointed to a straightforward Lions campaign, Jones now suggests that recent Super Rugby form indicates a far sterner test for Andy Farrell’s squad. “The matches against Australian sides have been nothing short of intense,” he noted. “They’re competitive, showing real signs of progress. It makes the Lions series intriguing and far from predictable—a prospect that can only be good for rugby.”
Jones’s journey from being dismissed as Wales attack coach at the end of 2022—following the return of Warren Gatland—to his current revitalised role in New Zealand speaks to rugby’s capacity for reinvention and global opportunity. His openness to new ideas, coupled with his commitment to both his players and their heritage, has endeared him to colleagues and fans alike.
In many ways, Jones’s experience epitomises the spirit of rugby: an ever-evolving blend of cultures, strategies and communities, constantly learning from one another. As Moana Pasifika eye a ground-breaking play-off spot, Jones’s story serves as a reminder that sometimes, the other side of the world offers not only a fresh start, but a new sense of belonging and ambition.
With the Lions Tour on the horizon and Super Rugby’s unpredictable drama unfolding week by week, Jones finds himself well-placed to comment on both hemispheres. Yet it is his willingness to adapt, learn and celebrate the game’s diversity that truly defines this chapter of his career.