Jones thought Scotland 'career was over' during slump

Huw Jones will earn in his 50th Scotland cap against Uruguay

Americas Tour: Uruguay v Scotland

Venue: Estadio Charrua, Montevideo Date: Saturday, 27 August Kick-off: 20:00 BST

Coverage: Watch live on BBC Scotland and iPlayer, plus live text updates on BBC Sport website

On the eve of his 50th Test cap, against Uruguay in Montevideo on Saturday, Scotland centre Huw Jones has spoken about how, a few years back, he had become resigned to his international career being over.

"In a way, I had made peace with it," Jones said of an extraordinary start to his Test career being followed by a mighty slump in the 2018-19 season, in particular, brought on by injury and an accompanying crisis of confidence.

"I'd decided that was it, my international career was over and I would just focus on playing club rugby and enjoying it for the rest of my career.

"I probably got to a point where I thought I'd played my last game for Scotland, so to have turned that around and played consistently over the last two years has been absolutely amazing."

His is a notable rise and fall story. Jones landed in Scottish rugby in 2016 like an alien from outer-space. Here was a try-scoring centre in blue, a speedster in the midfield with a step and an eye for a score the like of which had not been seen from a Scottish centre in an age.

He ran in 10 tries in his first 14 Tests between November 2016 and February 2018. He scored four times in two games against England and three in two against Australia. He scored against New Zealand and France, too.

He was powerful, creative and, on his day, virtually unstoppable. That was the rise - and then came the fall.

In his next 14 Tests, he didn’t score once. Injuries and an inability to navigate his way through the first setbacks in his career led to him being dropped by Glasgow and then by Scotland.

The World Cup in 2019 came and went without him. The Lions tour to South Africa, which looked a certainty for him, passed him by.

"When I first came into the squad, my first few caps came quite quickly and it seemed fairly straightforward. Then you get a few setbacks, a couple of injuries, a couple of times when you don’t get selected and it really makes you appreciate it a lot more. I will never take for granted being picked in a squad.

"Fifty caps has been a goal of mine for a while, but a few years ago, it didn’t seem realistic. It was difficult, it was upsetting that my career hadn’t gone the way I wanted it to go and the way I thought it should have gone.

"The way you get back in is by playing well and that's what happened. It came through a lot of hard work and it makes it all the more special. I'm really excited to get my 50th cap after a long journey, a lot of ups and downs.

"It’s a huge honour playing for your country once, but to be able to do it 50 times is a massive privilege. I’m super proud."

The rise, fall and rise again of Jones

An enjoyable campaign with Harlequins in 2021-22 was the catalyst for Jones' revival. He returned to Glasgow the following season and started to motor from there, a run that culminated in the United Rugby Championship title, won in epic style in Pretoria against the Bulls in June. He's recently become a father as well.

He had opportunities to leave Glasgow and move to France in the last year, but he recommitted to life at Scotstoun.

"The squad and the coaching we have really suits me and I feel I've become a better player and have more to give and more to improve on over the next two years," he said of his decision to stay. "My career is going pretty well, so why change that?"

In giving him a 50th cap, head coach Gregor Townsend spoke of Jones’ evolution.

"He's now in the best form of his career," he said. "He has become an all-round player.

"He's still got those running lines and an ability to break through tackles. His passing was always very good, but he's also an excellent defender and his contact work has improved.

"And he's a great person to have in a squad. He's full of positive energy.

"I felt for Huw back when he didn't make the World Cup in 2019. He had to go through that period and overcome some serious injuries. Maybe, when you feel that your opportunity has gone and you get back, it's even more special."

A score for Jones against Uruguay would move him on to 18 Test tries - one ahead of Townsend. Coach and player might have a laugh about that come Saturday night.