ON January 17, Alun Wyn Jones assumed the position of Wales’s captain from Sam Warburton, a man who had led Wales for a record 49 games to two Six Nations victories, and semi-final and quarter-final games at Rugby World Cups.
Here are five why Rob Howley was right that Jones will make a suitable replacement:
Alun Wyn Jones takes the armband from Sam Warburton (Credit: therugbypaper)
- Alun Wyn Jones has won 105 caps for Wales, making him the second most capped player after Gethin Jenkins. His international career spans 10 years since 2006, making him incredibly experienced.
- Jones has also captained the Ospreys more than 100 times over six years making him no stranger to the role.
- Jones has captained Wales five times and The Lions once, becoming the only substitute captain to win a game for them.
- The Ospreys have 11 players in the 2017 Welsh Six Nations squad, more than any other club. So Alun Wyn Jones has seven more club mates than former captain Warburton would have.
- Perhaps most importantly, he has Warburton’s blessing. Both men could walk out in Rome together for the Six Nations opener next week, and there is no room for animosity between players if Wales are to challenge this year.
Overall, Alun Wyn Jones is the most experienced and qualified member of the Welsh squad and deserves to be skipper.
