Adam Jones Reveals How Joe Marler Helped Him In His Darkest Hour

Wales and Lions legend Adam Jones has opened up on the loss of his mother and how England prop and teammate Joe Marler helped him through the darkest of times in a telling interview with Wales Online.

Jones was on a pre-season training camp in San Francisco with his club Harlequins, when he learned of his mother’s sudden death in August. She had suffered fatal injuries as a result of a tragic accident and the tight-head recalled the moment he received the early morning call from his wife.

“I was enjoying my pre-season, I got through the initial couple of weeks,” he told WalesOnline.

“We were having a good camp in San Francisco and then to have the phone call at 4am from your wife to say that your mother has passed away – it cuts you to pieces.

“And it wasn’t even an illness, it was a fall down the stairs.”

Jones had few people to turn to for comfort and support at the time other than his room mate – Joe Marler.

“The morning I found out – and I know he hasn’t got the best reputation in Wales – I was sharing with Joe Marler and if he hadn’t been there, I would have been in a hell of a mess. I would have really struggled.

“He was up with me at 4am sorting stuff out, getting me whatever I needed, he took me to get breakfast.

“Joe was brilliant with me that morning and the same goes for John Kingston (Harlequins Director of Rugby).

“Everyone at the club has been brilliant ever since.”

Jone recently made a return to the first team with Harlequins, in an unfamiliar role at loosehead, and while he admitted it was tough without his ‘No.1 fan’ on the touchline- he’s now more determined than ever to go on making her proud.

“It’s taken me a while. It definitely put me back rugby-wise,” added Jones.

“It’s your mother, so you’re always going to miss her.

“I’ve played a couple of ‘A’ League games, I found that quite tough, with my dad coming to watch because she was always there with him. They’d always support me together.

“I spoke to Steve Tandy (Ospreys head coach) about a month ago and he said that they were a pair, they’d always watch me together. That was tough.

“But you’ve got to get through it. It’s a heartbreaking thing to happen but I’ve just got to crack on with the rugby season now.

“I know she’s my No.1 fan so I just want to make her proud now and see my career out.”

You can read the interview in full here.