Alun Wyn Jones facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Alun Wyn Jones
OBE

Jones at the Welsh Rugby Grand Slam Homecoming, March 2019
Date of birth	(1985-09-19) 19 September 1985 (age 39)
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
Position(s) Lock Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2004–2006 Swansea 35 (15) 2005–2023 Ospreys 257 (120) 2023 Toulon 5 (0) National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 2005–2006 Wales U21 20 (5) 2006–2023 Wales 158 (45) 2009–2021 British & Irish Lions 12 (0)

Alun Wyn Jones (born 19 September 1985) is a famous Welsh former rugby union player. He mainly played as a lock, which is a forward position in rugby. He spent most of his career playing for the Ospreys team and the Wales national team.

Alun Wyn Jones holds the record for being the most-capped rugby union player in the world. This means he has played in more international matches than anyone else. He played 158 times for Wales and 13 times for the British & Irish Lions. He also holds records for the most Wales caps and the second most times as Wales captain. He stopped playing rugby professionally in 2023.

He 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. These tours were in 2009, 2013, 2017, and 2021. He is also one of seven Welsh players to have won three Grand Slams. A Grand Slam means winning all games in the Six Nations Championship. In 2019, he was named the best player of the 2019 Six Nations Championship. He was also nominated for the World Player of the Year award in 2015 and 2019.

Early Life

Alun Wyn Jones was born in Swansea, Wales. His father was a solicitor, and his mother was a secondary school teacher. Both his father and grandfather played rugby for Swansea. Alun Wyn grew up in Mumbles. He first played football before switching to rugby at Oystermouth Primary School. When he was 11, he joined Bonymaen RFC. At 16, he went to Llandovery College with a scholarship.

Club Career

Swansea and Ospreys

Jones playing against Harlequins in 2008

Alun Wyn 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 in a match against Leinster.

After his first season, the Ospreys won the 2006–07 Celtic League title. This was the first trophy of his career. In 2008, Jones played in the Anglo-Welsh Cup final against Leicester. He scored a try as Ospreys won the game.

In 2010, Alun Wyn Jones became the Ospreys' club captain. This decision was made so his teammate, Ryan Jones, could focus on being the national captain. In 2016, Jones set a new record for the Ospreys. He scored his 21st try, becoming the highest try-scoring forward for the team.

Toulon

In July 2023, Jones joined the French team Toulon. He played for them during the 2023 Rugby World Cup. In November, he was made captain for his very last match against Clermont. He received a warm welcome from the crowd as he ended his career.

International Career

Wales

Jones played for Wales at under-18 and under-21 levels. He won a Grand Slam with the under-21 team in 2005. He made his first senior appearance for Wales in 2006. He started as a flanker, but later switched to playing as a lock permanently.

He became a key player for Wales in the 2007 Six Nations Championship. He played in all five games. Jones scored his first try for Wales in a warm-up match for the 2007 Rugby World Cup. He also scored tries in the World Cup itself. However, Wales was knocked out in the group stage.

In the 2008 Six Nations Championship, Wales won their second Grand Slam in four years. This was Alun Wyn Jones's first Grand Slam. He scored his first Six Nations try in 2009 against Scotland. In the same tournament, he captained Wales for the first time. He was the 126th player to do so.

In 2014, Jones captained Wales three times. He also scored a try against Australia. In the 2015 Six Nations, he was named man-of-the-match twice. He played his 100th game for Wales in the quarter-finals of the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

In 2017, Jones took over as captain of the Welsh team for the Six Nations. In 2019, he led Wales to another Grand Slam victory. He was also named the Player of the Championship by public vote. Many people called him "the greatest ever" Welsh rugby player.

In September 2019, during the 2019 Rugby World Cup, he became Wales' most-capped player. He broke the record of 129 caps held by Gethin Jenkins. In October 2020, Jones equalled Richie McCaw's record for the most international appearances with 148 caps. A week later, he set a new record with his 149th cap. He played his 150th cap in March 2022.

On 19 May 2023, Alun Wyn Jones announced he was retiring from international rugby.

British and Irish Lions

The British & Irish Lions is a special team made up of the best players from England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. They tour other countries to play rugby.

In 2009, Jones was chosen for the Lions tour to South Africa. He played in several matches and scored his first Lions try. He played in the main test matches, but the Lions lost the series.

In 2013, Jones was selected for his second Lions tour, this time to Australia. He played in warm-up games and the first two test matches. When the captain got injured, Jones was chosen to lead the team for the final test. The Lions won this match, and Jones became the first substitute captain to lead the Lions to a series victory since 1904.

In 2017, Jones was chosen for his third Lions tour, to New Zealand. He captained the Lions again in a provincial game. He played in all three test matches against the All Blacks. He became the first player in the modern era to play in nine straight Lions test matches. He also became one of only seven Lions players to have beaten South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand on their home ground.

On 6 May 2021, Jones was named captain of the British and Irish Lions for their tour to South Africa. He dislocated his shoulder in a warm-up match but recovered quickly. He played in all three test matches, bringing his total Lions caps to 12. South Africa won the series.

Barbarians

The Barbarians is an invitational rugby team. Players from different clubs and countries are invited to play for them.

In May 2023, Jones captained the Barbarians in a win against a World XV team. A few days later, he played for both the Barbarians and his old club, Swansea RFC, in a special anniversary game. In November 2023, Jones played for the Barbarians against Wales. He captained the team, scored a try, and was named Man of the Match. After the game, he thanked the fans for their support throughout his career.

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 in 2010.

In 2020, Jones was given the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) award. This was for his great contributions to rugby union in Wales. He received the award from Prince William in 2021.

Honours

Ospreys

• Celtic League/Pro12: 2006–07, 2009–10, 2011–12
• Anglo-Welsh Cup: 2007–08
• Welsh Shield: 2021-22

Wales

Wales U21

• Six Nations Under 20s Championship: 2005

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

British & Irish Lions

• British & Irish Lions series: 2013
• 2017 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand (drawn series)

Individual

• British & Irish Lions tourist: 2009, 2013, 2017, 2021
• Officer of the Order of the British Empire: 2020 Queen's Birthday Honours
• Six Nations Player of the Championship: 2019
• BBC Cymru Wales Sports Personality of the Year: 2019

Biography

Alun Wyn Jones wrote a book about his life called Belonging: The Autobiography. It was published in 2021.

See also

In Spanish: Alun Wyn Jones para niños