Jones began his career with Neath before switching to the Ospreys with the regionalisation of Welsh rugby in 2003. Following several successful seasons at club level, Jones received a call up to the Wales squad in 2003, making his debut as a replacement against England during the 2003 Six Nations.

Jones almost immediately pinned down the No.3 shirt and was selected for Wales' World Cup squad at the end of 2003. He featured in all of Wales' games at the tournament, starting in the crucial group games against Italy and New Zealand and the quarter final loss to England. At the time, fears over Jones' fitness led to him only playing the first-half of games, a trend that he emphatically ended as his career developed.

Jones continued to hold down the starting tight-head spot through the 2004 Six Nations and autumn Internationals.

In 2005 Jones was a key member of the Welsh Grand Slam winning side, starting all five of Wales' games en route to their historic achievement. While Jones has found fame alongside Duncan Jones as the "hair bears" with both the Ospreys and Wales, it was alongside Gethin Jenkins that he provided a rock hard platform for the side in 2005.

Jones was a solid presence during the 2006 Six Nations, and was also one of the senior squad members for Wales' summer tour to Argentina. Following a difficult tournament for Wales in the 2007 Six Nations, Jones was selected for his second World Cup in the autumn of 2007.

Jones played in the group stages against Canada and Australia, but was dropped in favour of Worcester's Chris Horsman for the crucial final group game against Fiji. Bouncing back from the disappointment of the World Cup, Jones played in four of Wales' games on their way to the Grand Slam in 2008.

In his early career Jones was often criticised for a lack of scrummaging power, but he has answered those critics with several seasons of dogged and dependable work in the front row of both Wales and the Ospreys.

Jones' improvement under the guidance of Warren Gatland saw him selected for the 2009 Lions tour of South Africa and he made the squad for the first Test in Durban. After shoring up the Lions' retreating scrum in the first Test, Jones started the narrow second Test loss to South Africa in Pretoria.

His effort was ended by a dislocated shoulder suffered during the game after a challenge from Springboks lock Bakkies Botha and he was ruled out of the third Test. Jones' shoulder injury came after Botha attempted to clear him from a ruck and the Bulls star was subsequently cited and banned for two weeks for the challenge. Jones was ruled out for six weeks with the injury, returning for the Ospreys at Christmas in 2009 and for Wales ahead of the 2010 Six Nations.

Jones played a key role in the 2011 World Cup for Wales where he started the bulk of their group matches and went on to play in their quarter-final against Ireland. The Welsh took the match but ultimately fell to France in the semi-finals.

In 2012, he joined the pantheon of Welsh greats by winning a third Grand Slam, playing in all five games. Victory over France in Cardiff ensured a place alongside Gareth Edwards, Gerald Davies and JPR Williams as the players to achieve the feat.

Jones struggled for his best form and fitness during the latter stages of 2012 but returned to was hugely impressive in the Six Nations as Wales wrapped up a second consecutive championship. His strong form meant there were no quibbles when he was selected to tour with the Lions once again.