MARK Jones has joined New Zealand giants Canterbury Crusaders.

The former Builth Wells star joins the star studded club as assistant coach and will be tasked with maintaining their role as one of the world’s most successful non-international professional rugby teams.

The appointment represents the latest chapter of Jones' ascent from star of the Gro based Builth Wells side to one of the world's most respected emerging coaches.

Jones began his career with his hometown club in 1995 before progressing to Llandovery and then onto the Llanelli Scarlets 1998 where he became one of the club's modern day greats until his retirement in 2010.

Jones also enjoyed a nine year international career for Wales having first been capped by Gareth Jenkins in 2007 and would also earn caps under Nigel Davies and Warren Gatland who gave him his final of 47 caps in 2009.

Jones retired through injury in 2010 though his knowledge of the game saw him appointed Scarlets backs coach and Wales back coach until taking over at RFU side Rotherham in 2015.

The Welsh star returned to his homeland and enjoyed a successful spell at the helm of Colwyn Bay based RGC and helped shape the career of a host of North Wales stars, including Llanidloes born Sam Jones, now of Merthyr Tydfil.

Jones departed North Wales for a new challenge in 2018 and helped form part of the Namibia coaching staff at the last Rugby World Cup in Japan and now heads to New Zealand to join one of the world's most famous clubs.