Osprey targets 101 as he hits the century mark

Jones will hit the century mark in Friday's Magners League Play-Off against Glasgow Warriors at the Liberty Stadium.

If the Ospreys lose, then Jones admits his achievement won't feel as special as he'd like, but a victory would give it even greater significance. Making his 100th appearance in a must-win semi-final will be a massive occasion, but going one better in the inaugural Magners League Final would take some beating.

"To reach the century is a landmark, and for me personally, it makes the semi-final against Glasgow a bigger occasion than it is anyway, but I'd much rather end the season on 101 appearances as Magners League Champions than to finish the year on 100," said Jones.

"There are plenty of memories and high points from my first five years as an Osprey, but I don't want to look back.

"I'm only interesting in looking forward to be honest. There are lots of things that I still want to achieve in my career, and lots of things that the Ospreys still want to achieve and that is what matters.

"I'm still young and, although you never know what is in store for you as a professional rugby player, I'd like to think that I'll be around with the Ospreys for a while yet.

"I wouldn't want to play rugby anywhere else, I've got no reason to want to move on, so hopefully, there are plenty of landmarks and high points still to come for me personally and for the Ospreys."

Jones joined the Ospreys from feeder club Swansea, making his first-team debut as a replacement in the opening game of the 2005/06 Magners League season - a 22-20 home win over Leinster.

Now 24, Jones has reached his century in under five years since he made his debut two weeks before his 20th birthday.

An established Welsh international with 40 caps and a Test Lion in South Africa last summer, Jones becomes the youngest Osprey to hit 100 games for the region. He breaks Andrew Bishop's record by a single month and is the 12th player to reach the landmark.

"I'm honoured to have been able to have played so many times for the Ospreys - it's a privilege to be in the company of some great players who have already passed 100 caps for the region," added Jones.

"As a kid growing up, I always dreamt of playing for Swansea, which I was fortunate enough to be able to do, but representing the wider region for the Ospreys means a whole lot more."