Moana Pasifika Assistant Coach Stephen Jones has been granted an early release from his contract to be closer to his family in Wales.
The British and Irish Lions great spent two seasons with Moana Pasifika, starting at the franchise in November 2023. He arrived in New Zealand after four seasons as an assistant coach for the Welsh national team, which he represented as a player 104 times from 1998 – 2011.
After an extended period away from his family, a new coaching opportunity in Newcastle was too hard to turn down.
“I’ve loved my time here with Moana Pasifika,” Jones said. “From learning about the culture and customs, and getting to see the growth of our players not just on the field but as people too. The Moana movement is something special that I’ve never experienced before, and I’ll always cherish the memories made.
“It has been awesome to work alongside some legends of the game in our coaching group. We all got along really well and it was always great to come into work every day and have that open discussion.
“The club is in good hands and I look forward to following their journey from afar.”
Head coach Fa’alogo Tana Umaga added: “Jonesy has played a huge role in the growth of our club. From day one he embraced our culture and was always willing to learn.
“He brought a fresh perspective with his experiences from the Northern Hemisphere, being big on detail and offering a different view on the game, as well as helping our players especially our first fives develop in their roles.
“No doubt he will excel in whatever he does next and we wish him all the best in his next chapter.”
Alongside the club’s coaching team, Jones played an integral role in Moana Pasifika’s historic 2025 campaign which saw them win six games and finish just outside the top 6.
The 47-year-old achieved a Six Nations Championship, Welsh Premier Division Title, a Celtic Division title and two tours with the British and Irish Lions as a player.
Jones was the Backs and Attack Coach for Wales from 2019-2022 and helped them achieve a Six Nations Title and Triple Crown in 2021.
ENDS
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