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Harry Jones quietly joined an exclusive club at the Dubai Sevens this past weekend. Canada’s new captain played in his 50th tournament on the HSBC Sevens Series. It’s a distinction only three other Canadians have achieved since the creation of the circuit in 1999.
Jones has shared the field with all three – current teammates John Moonlight (59), Nathan Hirayama (54), and current Canada 15-a-side captain Phil Mack (52). Shane Thompson reached 46 tournaments on the HSBC Series though he played many more outside of it.
A Capilano product and former UBC Thunderbirds standout, Jones was part of the Canadian team at the first ever IRB (World Rugby) u20 World Championship in 2008, returning a year later to captain the side. He made his senior men’s sevens debut at Hong Kong in 2011 and has been with the squad ever since.
His versatility has seen him play both in the forwards and backs in the shortened game and he has also seen success in the XV-a-side game. Since his debut in 2012 he has won 20 caps as a flyhalf, centre, or fullback, and earned selection to the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Perhaps his most notable moment in a Canadian jersey this far was scoring the winning try against Argentina in the 2015 Pan Am Games Gold Medal Final at BMO Field. Now 28 years old, Jones looks set to lead the charge towards qualification for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
