Alun Wyn Jones

Alun Wyn Jones (born 19 September 1985) is a Welsh former international rugby union player who played as a lock.

He played most of his career for Ospreys and for the Wales national team.

He is the world's most-capped rugby union player, with 158 caps for Wales and 12 for the British & Irish Lions, and also holds the records for the most Wales caps and the second most Wales caps as captain.

He retired from rugby in 2023.

Jones was the captain of the British & Irish Lions for their 2021 tour to South Africa, and is one of only four players to have been selected to play on four Lions tours, in 2009, 2013, 2017 and 2021.

He is one of seven Wales players to have won three Grand Slams.

Jones made his Ospreys debut on 4 September 2005 in a 22–20 win over Leinster and having made several appearances as a replacement, Jones made his first Ospreys start against Border Reivers later that month.

After a disappointing first season in which Ospreys finished 6th in the 2005–06 Celtic League, Jones went on to win the 2006–07 Celtic League title, the first trophy of his career.

Jones represented Wales at both under-18 and under-21 level, completing a Grand Slam at the 2005 under-21 Six Nations Championship.

Jones made his senior Wales debut during the 2006 Summer Tests, starting at flanker as Wales lost to Argentina in successive games.

Jones would secure his first Wales win against the Pacific Islanders at the Millennium Stadium in the 2006 Autumn Internationals.

Jones' first appearance at lock would occur in the following game, a victory over Canada, ahead of a permanent switch from then on.

Jones became first choice lock ahead of the 2007 Six Nations, appearing in all 5 games.

Disappointing performances however saw Wales finish 5th in the standings, securing their only win of the tournament on the final day against England.

Jones scored his first Wales try during the 2007 Rugby World Cup warm-up matches, crossing the line in a 27–20 win over Argentina.

Jones was selected at lock in Wales opening 2007 Rugby World Cup pool game against Canada, scoring on his World Cup debut as Wales ran out unconvincing 42–17 victors.

Following defeat to Australia in Cardiff, Jones would score again against Japan at the Millennium Stadium in the third pool game, increasing their chances to qualify.

Unfortunately, Wales would fall to defeat in the final game against Fiji, crashing out of the World Cup at the pool stage.

Jones played in the 2008 Anglo-Welsh Cup final against Leicester, scoring the second try as Ospreys ran out 6–23 winners.

Jones started in Wales' opening game of the 2008 Six Nations against England, achieving a first win at Twickenham in 20 years.

Jones would miss the following two games, victories over Scotland and Italy due to injury before returning for the final games against Ireland and France.

Wales would complete their second Grand Slam in four years, and a first for Jones.

Jones scored his first Six Nations try in the opening game of the 2009 championship against Scotland at Murrayfield.

On 23 August 2010, the Ospreys announced that Jones would succeed Welsh teammate Ryan Jones as club captain for the 2010–11 season.

The decision was made, in part, so Ryan Jones could concentrate on the national captaincy during a busy World Cup year.

On 18 January 2010, he was named in the 35-man Wales squad for the 2010 Six Nations tournament.

In the first game against England, Jones tripped hooker Dylan Hartley, for which he was sent to the sin-bin.

During his 10 minutes there, England scored 17 points and went on to victory.

In the penultimate game of the tournament against Italy, Jones was selected to captain Wales for the first time, becoming the 126th player to do so.

On 9 December 2016, Jones broke the Ospreys' record for the highest try scoring forward as he touched down for his 21st try.

On 7 July 2023, Jones would sign for French team Toulon as a cover during the 2023 Rugby World Cup held in France.

On 18 November, he would be made captain for the last match of his career in a Top14 match against Clermont.

He received a standing ovation from the crowd.

He was named the best player of the 2019 Six Nations Championship and was nominated for World Player of the Year in 2015 and 2019.

Jones was born in Swansea to Tim Jones, a solicitor, and Ann Jones, a secondary school teacher.

Both Jones' father and grandfather had previously played rugby for Swansea.

Jones grew up in Mumbles, initially playing football before switching to rugby whilst at Oystermouth Primary School.

For his secondary education, he attended Bishop Gore School and joined Bonymaen RFC at age 11.

At 16, Jones joined Llandovery College on a partial scholarship.

Jones played for Swansea RFC while in the Ospreys Academy.