England Saxons

Paul Doran Jones

Key Facts

Squad	Northampton Saints
Position	Prop
Age	28
Height	1.83m (6'0")
Weight	118kg (18st 8lb)
Caps	4

The rich potential of Paul Doran Jones, a Northampton Saints’ newcomer from Gloucester for 2011-12, was recognised when he won his first cap off the bench against Argentina in the autumn of 2009. He had been initially brought into the England training squad as cover for Bath’s David Wilson, who suffered a shoulder injury against Australia.

Paul has since played as a replacement in the 2011 RBS 6 Nations Championship matches against Scotland and Ireland, the opening match of the 2012 summer tour to South Africa in Durban and in the non-cap games against the Barbarians in 2010, 2011 and 2012. He started the tour matches in 2010 against Australian Barbarians and New Zealand Maori.

He had been recruited by Gloucester head coach Dean Ryan from London Welsh in May 2009 on a two-year contract and had made nine appearances when joining up with England. Two were against Newport Gwent Dragons and Biarritz Olympique in the Heineken Cup and five in the Premiership, including three starts. By then, his Premiership experience had spanned only 266 minutes but his ability to pack down on either side of the scrum pointed to his value.

Born to an Irish mother and English father, he was educated at Wellington College, Berkshire and appeared for England Schools 18 Group before representing Ireland in the U19 Six Nations and at the U21 World Cup. His club career began at Lansdowne while he was studying at University College, Dublin and he had a spell with King Country, the province where former England team manager Martin Johnson had played in his formative years.

Paul spent four seasons with Leinster before moving to London Welsh in 2007 and helped London Wasps to win the Guinness A League in 2008. A switch to Gloucester opened new horizons. He was recruited as a potential understudy to New Zealander Greg Somerville but quickly made his mark.

His 40th appearance for the Cherry and Whites was in the 18-16 win at Northampton in February last year. He scored a maiden Premiership try the following month against Bath eight days before winning the second of his three caps so far against Scotland. The curtain fell on his Gloucester career after 49 appearances to which he had added 33 for the Saints in his debut campaign.