Jones left the Llanelli-based side, for whom he played 136 times and helped them win the Pro12 title in 2017.

“I was there for a long time,” Jones said.

“A lot had changed. I just wanted a new challenge and a change.”

Jones will be looking to return to the form that earned him the Lions award in 2021.

He was in the starting eleven in the first test, but had to withdraw due to injury.

Jones recovered in time to start the third and final Test in Cape Town, where the Lions were beaten 19-16 and the Springboks took the series win.

He admits that he should have taken a break after the tour to heal some long-standing injuries, but instead he carried on playing.

“It’s been tough since then, I’ve had to deal with one setback after another,” Jones said.

“I was probably nowhere near fit for that third Lions Test, but this is a game you can’t turn down.

“It was still 100 percent the right decision to play, but I probably should have raised my hands after the game and said that I wasn’t fit to play for a while. I probably struggled a bit.

“Hindsight is always 20/20, but I should have taken a few months to get my back and shoulder back in order.

“Based on what I’ve learned, I’d probably throw up my hands and say, ‘I’m at 50% and there’s no point in me playing.'”

“That was the frustrating factor, but now I feel as good as I did before the Lions tour.”