Alun Wyn Jones facts for kids
Jones at the Welsh Rugby Grand Slam Homecoming, March 2019
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| Date of birth | 19 September 1985 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Swansea, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 198 cm (6 ft 6 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 121 kg (267 lb; 19 st 1 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Llandovery College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | Swansea University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Alun Wyn Jones (born 19 September 1985) is a Welsh former rugby union player. He mostly played as a lock for the Ospreys and the Wales national team. He is known as the world's most-capped rugby union player, meaning he has played in more international games than anyone else. He played 158 times for Wales and 12 times for the British & Irish Lions. He also holds the record for the most games played for Wales and the second-most as captain. Alun Wyn Jones retired from rugby in 2023.
Jones was the captain of the British & Irish Lions for their 2021 tour to South Africa. He is one of only four players to have been chosen for four Lions tours (in 2009, 2013, 2017, and 2021). He is also one of only seven Welsh players to have won three Grand Slams. 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.
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Early Life and Rugby Start
Alun Wyn Jones was born in Swansea, Wales. His father, Tim, was a solicitor, and his mother, Ann, was a teacher. Both his father and grandfather played rugby for Swansea. Jones grew up in Mumbles and first played football. He switched to rugby while at Oystermouth Primary School. For high school, he went to Bishop Gore School and joined Bonymaen RFC when he was 11. At 16, Jones attended Llandovery College with a scholarship.
Club Rugby Career
Playing for Swansea and Ospreys
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Jones played for Swansea RFC while he was part of the Ospreys Academy. He made his first appearance for the Ospreys team on 4 September 2005. This was a close 22–20 win against Leinster.
After his first season, Ospreys won the 2006–07 Celtic League title. This was the first trophy Jones won in his career. In 2008, Jones scored a try in the Anglo-Welsh Cup final, helping Ospreys win 23–6 against Leicester.
In 2010, Jones became the captain of the Ospreys team for the 2010–11 season. On 9 December 2016, he set a new record for Ospreys. He scored his 21st try, becoming the highest try-scoring forward for the club.
Short Time with Toulon
On 7 July 2023, Jones signed with the French team Toulon. He joined them as a temporary player during the 2023 Rugby World Cup. On 18 November, he was made captain for his very last rugby match. This was a Top14 game against Clermont, and he received a standing ovation from the crowd.
Playing for the Barbarians
On 28 May 2023, Jones captained the Barbarians team. They won 48-42 against a World XV team. A few days later, Jones played for both the Barbarians and Swansea RFC in a special game. He switched teams at half-time to celebrate Swansea's 150th anniversary.
On 4 November 2023, Jones played for the Barbarians against Wales. He captained the Barbarians, scored a try, and was named man of the match. Even though his team lost 49-26, it was a memorable game.
International Rugby Career
Playing for Wales
Jones played for Wales at both under-18 and under-21 levels. He helped the under-21 team win a Grand Slam in the 2005 Six Nations Championship.
He made his first appearance for the senior Wales team in 2006. He started as a flanker, but later switched to playing as a lock, which became his main position. Jones got his first win with Wales against the Pacific Islanders in 2006.
Jones became a regular player for Wales in the 2007 Six Nations. He scored his first try for Wales in a warm-up game for the 2007 Rugby World Cup. He also scored tries in the World Cup itself against Canada and Japan. However, Wales was knocked out of the World Cup early.
In the 2008 Six Nations, Jones helped Wales achieve their second Grand Slam in four years. This was his first Grand Slam win. In the 2009 championship, he scored his first Six Nations try. In the same tournament, he captained Wales for the first time, becoming the 126th player to do so.
In 2010, during a game against England, Jones was sent off the field for 10 minutes. During this time, England scored many points and won the game. His coach later said this action cost Wales the match.
Jones captained Wales three times in 2014. In the 2015 Six Nations, he won two "man of the match" awards. He played his 100th game for Wales in the quarter-finals of the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
In 2016, Jones played his 100th test match for Wales against New Zealand. He took over as captain of the Welsh team for the 2017 Six Nations.
In 2019, Jones captained Wales to another Grand Slam victory. He was voted the Player of the Championship. After this win, many people, including former player Jonathan Davies, called him "the greatest ever" Welsh rugby player.
On 29 September 2019, during a game at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, he became Wales' most-capped player. He passed the record of 129 caps held by Gethin Jenkins. On 24 October 2020, Jones equalled Richie McCaw's record for the most international appearances (148 caps). A week later, he set a new world record with his 149th cap. On 19 March 2022, he played his 150th cap.
On 19 May 2023, Jones announced he was retiring from international rugby.
Playing for the British and Irish Lions
In 2009, Jones was chosen for the British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa. He played in several warm-up games and scored his first Lions try. He played in all three test matches against South Africa.
Jones was chosen for his second Lions tour in 2013, this time to Australia. He played in warm-up games and all three test matches. When the original captain was injured, Jones was chosen to captain the Lions for the deciding third test in Sydney. The Lions won this game, making him the first substitute captain to lead the Lions to victory in a series since 1904.
In 2017, Jones was selected for his third Lions tour, to New Zealand. He captained the Lions for a second time in a game against the Crusaders. He played in all three test matches against the All Blacks. He became the first player in the modern era to play in nine Lions test matches in a row.
On 6 May 2021, Jones was chosen and named captain of the British and Irish Lions for their tour to South Africa. He dislocated his shoulder in a warm-up match but made an amazing return to play in the first test win four weeks later. Jones played in all three test matches, bringing his total Lions caps to 12.
International Tries
| Try | Opponent | Location | Venue | Tests | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Argentina |
Cardiff, Wales | Millennium Stadium | 2007 Rugby World Cup warm-up matches | 18 August 2007 | Win |
| 2 |  Canada |
Nantes, France | Stade de la Beaujoire | 2007 Rugby World Cup | 9 September 2007 | Win |
| 3 |  Japan |
Cardiff, Wales | Millennium Stadium | 2007 Rugby World Cup | 20 September 2007 | Win |
| 4 |  Scotland |
Edinburgh, Scotland | Murrayfield | 2009 Six Nations | 8 February 2009 | Win |
| 5 |  South Africa |
Cardiff, Wales | Millennium Stadium | 2010 Summer Internationals | 5 June 2010 | Loss |
| 6 | Argentina |
Cardiff, Wales | Millennium Stadium | 2011 Rugby World Cup warm-up matches | 20 August 2011 | Win |
| 7 |  Namibia |
New Plymouth, New Zealand | Yarrow Stadium | 2011 Rugby World Cup | 26 September 2011 | Win |
| 8 |  Australia |
Cardiff, Wales | Millennium Stadium | 2014 Autumn Internationals | 8 November 2014 | Loss |
| 9 |  New Zealand |
Wellington, New Zealand | Westpac Stadium | 2016 Tour of New Zealand | 18 June 2016 | Loss |
Personal Life
Alun Wyn Jones is married to Dr. Anwen Jones, and they have three daughters.
He studied law part-time at Swansea University and graduated on 21 July 2010.
Jones was given the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) award in 2020 for his services to rugby union in Wales. He received this award from Prince William at Windsor Castle on 9 November 2021. In 2025, he was made an honorary colonel of the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Welsh, a British Army division.
Rugby Achievements
With Ospreys
- Celtic League/Pro12: 2006–07, 2009–10, 2011–12
- Anglo-Welsh Cup: 2007–08
- Welsh Shield: 2021-22
With Wales U21
- Six Nations Under 20s Championship: 2005
With Wales
- Six Nations Championship: 2008, 2012, 2013, 2019, 2021
- Grand Slam: 2008, 2012, 2019
- Triple Crown: 2008, 2012, 2019, 2021
- Doddie Weir Cup: 2018, 2019, 2021
- Prince William Cup: 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018
With British & Irish Lions
- British & Irish Lions series: 2013 (won the series)
- 2017 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand (series was a draw)
Individual Awards
- Officer of the Order of the British Empire: 2020
- British & Irish Lions captain: 2021
- British & Irish Lions tours: 2009, 2013, 2017, 2021
- Nominated for IRB International Player of the Year: 2015, 2019
- Rugby World Magazine Player of the Year: 2019
- Six Nations Player of the Championship: 2019
- BBC Cymru Wales Sports Personality of the Year: 2019
Biography
- Belonging: The Autobiography, 2021, Pan Macmillan ISBN: 978-1529058093
See also
In Spanish: Alun Wyn Jones para niños
