There can't be too many Welsh rugby players who, by the age of 26, have sampled life across three different countries and a wide array of leagues.
However, for Joe Jones, that's the case. The tight-head prop has experienced rugby not just on Welsh soil, but in England and France too.
He's now in a second professional stint at Sale Sharks, enjoying some Gallagher Premiership rugby. He's already made appearances in the Welsh Premiership, English Championship and France's Pro D2.
Read more: Meeting the Wales rugby warrior who held his own in a land of giants
"It's sort of my third stint at Sale as when I left school, I went to Myerscough College," he explains. "They have an apprenticeship with rugby and I did two years there with them.
"Then I went on to Cardiff Blues for three years, then to Perpignan and back to Sale. After that, it was Doncaster and Coventry and now back to Sale once again.
"I've done the full circle. I've been everywhere pretty much. I'm really enjoying it, being back in the environment, and to be playing as well is good."
There truly isn't a road that Jones hasn't travelled down at this point, but it seems that life up north could be where he stays for the considerable future. Having re-joined Sale as injury cover, he's now signed a longer term deal that will keep him at the AJ Bell Stadium for a while.
Next on the to-do list for Jones is to put himself on the radar of Test selection.
"I'm Welsh and it's every rugby player's dream to play for their country," he admits. "I've got to keep performing for Sale and stay in the team for that to happen.
"I'd love my daughter to see me play for Wales. I come from a big family too so I'd love them to see it too. I've got international ambitions, but at the moment I need to concentrate on staying in the team at Sale.
"That's my priority at the moment. Hopefully it will come.
"I'm only 26 and I've played nearly 50 games for Sale now. I've played in the PRO D2, the Championship and the Premiership. I feel I just need to keep concentrating on playing week-in, week-out and then hopefully one day I get the nod.
"I think I'm one of few Welsh tight-heads performing in the Premiership right now so I think all that goes in my favour."
The varied nature of his career could certainly help were Wayne Pivac to be on the lookout.
His time in Wales came with an academy contract at the Arms Park. However, despite winning a Swalec Cup with Pontypridd and making five appearances for Wales U20s, he never managed to break through to the senior side and was released in 2016.
His next move was something of a surprise. With the help of former Lions lock Bob Norster and his company, Engagesport, a tape of Jones in action caught the eye of French outfit Perpignan.
And so, at the age of 19, Jones was heading to the south of France. During his two years, senior appearances didn't exactly come too often at the Catalan side - but it was an invaluable learning experience nonetheless.
"I say to a lot of younger front-rows and locks that it was really good for my development," he adds. "It's all about the set-piece.
"It's rough and it's tough out there, but it was the making of me. I just went out there and got my head down.
"I loved my time there as it helped with my development. A lot of people were shocked when I said I was signing for Perpignan.
"The first year, we won the U23s league, which is a big thing over there. And then in the second year, we were promoted to the Top 14. I'd already agreed a deal with Sale by that point but it was a really good two years.
"Over the two years, I played about 10 games. I played a lot of my rugby in the U23s. I was 19 when I flew out there. It was just so good for my personal development."
Not only was Jones taken aback by the support France's second division pulls in, with matches regularly televised and crowds of around 15,000 attending games, but the culture change was something to overcome too.
"When you go there, you're given lessons to get over the language barrier," he says. "You have to do the equivalent of an A Level in French.
"I got that and then I was doing two or three lessons a week after training. You pick it up quite quickly. You have to when you're out there - it's fight or flight really.
"It's a bit old school out there. It's just as professional as over here, but it feels like they're 10 years behind. They're not, but the culture is a very close community of rugby clubs.
"Stuff like sport science feels like it's behind, but it's made up for in passion and camaraderie. It's a massive community and everyone cares so much."
Eventually though, despite the prospect of Perpignan being back in the Top 14, the lure of heading back to British soil was too great.
"I always wanted to come back to the UK. The Premiership is the toughest league and I wanted to get there to prove myself as a tight-head.
"Sale was more of an opportunity to me. The Premiership is just so fast. I remember my Premiership debut was against Harlequins at the Stoop. It was so fast and physical. I just remember thinking I had to get fitter."
"The PRO D2 and Championship are very similar. Very physical, but a bit slower.
"The Premiership is just as physical, but everyone is that much better. Everyone in a Premiership team has had international exposure, or they could have done. That's the difference."
Naturally, arriving at Sale at the same time another Welsh prop, WillGriff John, was making his mark there led to comparisons, with Steve Diamond admitting they hoped Jones would follow in John's footsteps.
"I think Dimes' thinking was that he wanted a big pack," explains Jones. "He loves that and he probably saw some similarities between me and WillGriff."
"Me and WillGriff are good mates. Both our partners had children at the same time. He's got a little boy and I've got a little girl and they were born only two weeks apart.
"I think there's obviously a way in, looking at how he did it. He got in through performing at Sale.
"He's the only one who has come through prop-wise from the Premiership recently though. I've just got to keep playing well, stay in the team and get some more recognition."
Jones' first stint at Sale ended just as Covid arrived. Not getting minutes in Manchester, he dropped down into the Championship with Doncaster.
However, the pandemic meant it was unclear when the league would even get underway. With a new baby having just arrived, it was a stressful time for the prop.
He wouldn't have to wait long to return though. After a handful of appearances for Doncaster and Coventry, Sale came calling again in need of injury cover.
"It's been an easy transition for me, knowing other people and coaches, to come in and enjoy my rugby. When I originally came here, I played a handful of games up to December.
"However, since then, I've played around 11 or 12 in a row. It's been about getting momentum and showing what I'm about. That's what I've wanted."
His reward for that run of games has been a new deal. Now, it's a case of kicking on against the tough competition for places in the Sale squad and playing rugby on a more consistent basis.
"Right now, there's me, Nick Schonert and Coenie Oosthuizen and they're both internationals," he adds. "So it's good for me to learn off them sort of guys. Wherever I've gone, that's been the great thing for me.
"Funnily enough, in my Wales U20s team, the tight-heads were me, Dillon Lewis and Leon Brown. I've always been in good company wherever I've gone! I've always had competition and I've always had to be on my game."
Perhaps that's another thing that stands him in good stead if Wales do ever come calling.
