Stephen James Jones played for Scotland under-21 in 2004 and Scotland A in 2008 after having won England age-grade honours, and he had a season with Border Reivers. He joined Reivers in 2006 from Batley Bulldogs, the Rugby League National One club, where he had been with Batley for a season after a sojourn with Super League club Huddersfield Giants. His competition debut for Reivers was as a replacement against Connacht at Netherdale on the opening day of the 2006-2007 Magners League. Steve played for England at under-18 and under-19 levels and for the North of England at under-21 before opting for Scotland. He was born in Ashington, Northumberland, but qualifies to play for Scotland through his father, who was born in Stranraer.

While playing for Newcastle Falcons, Steve made his first appearance for Scotland’s under-21 team as replacement stand-off against the Welsh at Brewery Field, Bridgend, in February 2004. He had a further replacement appearance against England before starting at stand-off in the subsequent games against Italy, France, and Ireland. He was also stand-off in all five of Scotland’s matches in the 2004 under-21 world championship held in Scotland. In 2008 he was full back for Scotland A in all three matches in the Barclays Churchill Cup in North America, scoring three tries in the opening-game win against Canada in Ottawa, and in February 2009 he was in the same role for Scotland’s A internationals against Ireland and Italy. Stephen was a social science student at Northumbria University before signing for Border Reivers in 2006, and he returned to Newcastle a year later.