Wales coach John Kear has confirmed that the club will take on Keighley Cougars in a match to help the fundraising efforts for Danny Jones’ family – with the Welsh players agreeing to play for nothing.
Kear never coached Jones at international level, after the 29-year-old, who tragically passed away on May 3, after Jones turned down a request to play in the European Championships last year due to his wife being heavily pregnant.
But Kear said that with both parties agreeing a date and venue – October 25 at Cougar Park – the Welsh squad have shown a “tremendous response” to the game.
“There’s been a tremendous response,” Kear told PA Sport. “The players have all put their hands up and agreed to play for nothing.
“Danny was very popular in the Welsh camp.
“I tried to get him to play in last year’s European Championship but he turned it down because his wife Liz was heavily pregnant and I think that demonstrates what a family man he was.
“Both Keighley and Wales have agreed a date and a venue and now it’s subject to approval from the RFL.
“The match fits in with our schedule but, regardless of that, we would have wanted to play it because we just want to do the best we can for his family.”
