Wales pair Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric have retired from international rugby just four months before the World Cup.
Jones, 37, is world rugby’s record cap holder – having played 170 Tests for Wales and the British and Irish Lions.
His announcement came just an hour after 33-year-old Tipuric revealed he was also quitting international rugby.
Both Ospreys forwards had been named in Warren Gatland’s 54-man training squad for September’s World Cup in France.
The pair were Six Nations champions in 2012, 2013, 2019 and 2021 while Jones won the first of his five titles in 2008.
Jones, who made his international debut against Argentina in 2006, has played 158 times for Wales and 12 Tests for the British and Irish Lions on four tours.
He led the Lions on the 2021 tour of South Africa and was skipper for the 2013 Test-winning decider against Australia in Sydney
Jones has named the top three second-rowers he has come up against throughout his stellar career – with one legendary Irishman making his list.
ALUN WYN JONES: TOUGHEST OPPONENT
#1. Paul O’Connell
Born October 20, 1979, Limerick
Major teams British and Irish Lions, Munster, Ireland
Caps 115
Position Lock
The Irish second row was certainly blessed with special rugby powers having been one of the world’s leading tight forwards for more than a decade. A three-times Lions who captained the tour of South Africa in 2009.
Alun Wyn Jones said: “We got to know each other very well as team-mates with the Lions and opponents for our clubs and countries. You cannot shy away from how effective the guy was in his position.”
Did you know? O’Connell initially excelled at swimming and only started playing rugby at the age of 16
Source: The Rugby Paper
