The Jones family of Pontypridd had two very special guests for dinner last night after winning a special prize promoted by British & Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland to ‘Host the Pride’.
Three families in south Wales beat off competition from 400 other households to win the right to host two Lions each at a special dinner party in their own homes. For Neil and Victoria Jones it proved to be a night to remember after Wales prop Adam Jones and Scottish full back Stuart Hogg turned up at the door.
To see a video of the 'Host the Pride' night out in south Wales click here
“I only found out on Tuesday I had won, so we didn’t have much time to plan the menu. To be honest, we were in shock and at first I thought it was a bit of a wind-up when I got the phone call to say we had won the prize,” said travel-agent Neil.
Toby Faletau, Ian Evans, Alex Cuthbert and Jonathan Davies were the other players who went out to be wined and dined and they all returned to the Lions’ Vale of Glamorgan headquarters having had a great time.
Adam Jones certainly made a big impression on three-year-old Meghan Jones when the Lions sat around the family dining table and tucked into chicken and pasta followed by cheesecake.
“We had a lovely time – it was just like being at home. Neil and Victoria were lovely hosts and we had a great chat about rugby and the upcoming tour,” said Adam Jones,
“What opportunities like these do is make you appreciate just how much support there is out there for the Lions. Everyone wants us to do well and they all feel so incredibly proud of the squad already.
“They made us feel very much at home and it was nice to escape from the training regime for a couple of hours. I’m sure the boys who are hosted in Ireland next week will have just as enjoyable an experience.”
