MONDAY PROFILE: Family united by Shield

SHANE HURNDELL
His old man didn't like watching him play soccer but that's not the reason Simon Jones switched to rugby.
"Most of my friends were playing rugby so I decided to join them," Jones, 13, said as he reflected on his switch last year.
It's just as as well he did though as it enabled the St Patrick's School year eight student to become a third generation Ross Shield rugby player. Not that there was any pressure from his father, Mark Jones, and grandfather Peter Stairmand.
"It's just the way it worked out," said 74-year-old Stairmand who played fullback for the 1945 Wairoa side.
"Hastings won the tournament and I can't remember if we won any games or not ... it was a long time ago," he grinned.
"You don't want to remember," said Jones jnr while firing up some friendly family rivalry.
"Things are a lot different now. We didn't have too many warm-up games because transport was an issue back then," said Stairmand.
"Simon's team has been together for a while now, had plenty of buildup games and their training regimes, management and coaching structures ... it's just so professional. And all the gear they get ... there's no comparison," added Stairmand whose comments are echoed by Jones snr who played lock or blindside flanker for the 1975 Napier team which finished second to Wairoa at the Waipukurau-hosted tournament.
His son is obviously a chip off the old block and will play blindside flanker for the Napier side which will aim for a third consecutive title in Dannevirke this week. Young Jones inherited plenty of natural strength from his father and grandfather and has built on this by helping his father with the family's firewood business and Christmas tree business during the festive season.
"He's done well to get this far after just two seasons of rugby. I've told him I made the Hawke's Bay Ross Shield side and that's something he can aim for but helping Napier retain their title is his priority," said Jones snr whose Hawke's Bay side was unbeaten.
A Greendale soccer player for four years before making his switch, Jones played Wakely Shield for the Napier West side which finished third last year. On Thursday night he collected the Best Team Member award for his Napier Old Boys Marist 12th grade side which finished third behind MAC and Taradale in the inter-city competition.
Jones is one of six players from his club and one of four from his school in the Napier side which opens this week's tournament with a game against Wairoa this afternoon. Next year he will attend St John's College where he hopes to further his rugby development.
Should Jones miss out on Hawke's Bay selection next week his attention will turn to speedway as he will be a second season ministock driver for the Hawke's Bay Speedway Club this summer. However, if he matches the old man's feat of gaining a black and white jersey he will have another two weeks of rugby before hitting the track. Either way the young bloke has already made the old man and grandfather extremely proud.