Who ate all the pies? Adam Jones it seems =(

Adam Jones has been warned he might not make Wales’ World Cup cut if he doesn’t keep his weight under control.

The hair-bear prop has been told in no uncertain terms he could miss out on September’s tournament unless his fitness improves.

The Wales camp have a graph that shows when Jones' weight increases his mobility suffers and his tackle count goes down.

He missed the start of this year’s Six Nations Championship because of an elbow injury sustained last January and only started against France because Craig Mitchell was out with a dislocated shoulder.


Mitchell is in pole position to wear the Wales No 3 jersey during the World Cup opener against South Africa in Wellington on September 11 and in the warm-ups, with England and Argentina.

Exeter Chiefs-bound tight-head Mitchell posted a staggering successful tackle count of 10 against England, 13 in Scotland and 10 in Italy.

“He had a great campaign and has given us the depth we were looking for,” enthused Wales coach Warren Gatland.

Jones managed just four tackles in Paris against France, and with only six scrums having taken place in that heavy loss, Gatland has to weigh up the pros and cons of what type of front-row player Wales need to take to the World Cup in New Zealand.

There’s understood to be concern about the weight of Jones with insiders claiming he was about a stone heavier towards the end of last season than he was when he tipped the scales at 19st 7lbs for the autumn internationals.

Thirty-year-old Jones has had long-standing issues with his weight and fitness, but had rectified those problems in recent seasons. The Lions and Ospreys rock has admitted in the past being a chocolate lover.

Gatland was on his case after being appointed Wales boss in December 2008 and only last season threatened to banish him if he turned up overweight for the clash with France.

“Hopefully Adam has been training and his weight is OK and we’ll be able to keep him in the squad,” Gatland had said, before warning: “He knows if he turns up and he’s overweight then I’ll turn around and send him home.”

Jones was known as the 30-minute man at the 2003 World Cup, because that’s how long the renowned scrummager was kept on by then Wales coach Steve Hansen.

Now, with the declining number of scrums in most matches highlighting the need for athletic props, Jones needs to be fitter than ever.

WRU fitness guru Adam Beard stressed 69-times Wales-capped Jones, knee injury victim Shane Williams and television game-show contestant Gavin Henson had to pass rigorous tests on June 30.

“I’ve given them each specific programmes. They can’t slacken off. If any of them do, it’s going to be to their detriment because we have got a lot of competition for places,” warned the straight-talking Australian.

“When they come in, they will be tested to see if they are of standard that they can go to our training camp in Poland. That’s D-Day for them.

“We’ve set them targets and they have to meet those targets. If they don’t, then they don’t come to Poland.

“And if you don’t come to Poland, then you are trouble in terms of not coming to the World Cup.”

maestegmafia wrote:I just can't understand why the bloke can't leave his desk for five minutes and go and find some great, interesting and worthwhile stories.

Hobo wrote:Isnt he on his honeymoon at the moment?

caoimhincentre wrote:If WG really said this he's a fool. Comments like this should not be going into the public domain and he should be telling adam Jones in private

....admitted in the past being a chocolate lover.

....admitted in the past being a chocolate lover.

luckless_pedestrian wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:I just can't understand why the bloke can't leave his desk for five minutes and go and find some great, interesting and worthwhile stories.

It's because he's got it made. He doesn't need to write 'great, interesting and worthwhile stories' - his editor is happy with what he comes up with. He doesn't even have to write well. It's a cushy little number.