Final bow for one of rugby's best
NEWS: Wales legend Alun Wyn Jones will bring to an end his illustrious career when he leads out Toulon on Saturday against ASM Clermont Auvergne.
Legendary Wales forward Alun Wyn Jones will bring his storied career to an end on Saturday when he captains Champions Cup side RC Toulon against ASM Clermont Auvergne in the TOP 14 at Stade Marcel-Michelin.
The 38-year-old made 68 appearances across all EPCR competitions over a 15-season span for Ospreys. He reached the quarterfinals of the Champions Cup in three consecutive campaigns with the Welsh Region between 2007/8 and 2009/10.
His EPCR competition debut game in the 2006/7 season in a 17-16 win over Sale Sharks in front of a crowd of 13,529 at the Swansea.com Stadium. He had to wait until the 2007/8 season to etch his name on the scoresheet for the first time – dotting down in Ospreys’ seven try 48-17 rout of Ulster, Wyn Jones’ first of seven EPCR tries.
Unfortunately, he was never able to claim a winners’ medal, with European Cup quarterfinal defeats to Saracens (10-19), Munster Rugby (9-43) and most agonizingly to Biarritz Olympique (28-29) in consecutive years the nearest he came to EPCR glory.
His final foray in EPCR’s elite club competition came in April this year in a 20-35 defeat at the hands of Saracens in the Round of 16 – the Welshman playing 60 minutes in the second row.
A former British and Irish Lions captain, Wyn Jones also represented Wales on 158 occasions – captaining the side 48 times, one short of his predecessor Sam Warburton’s record. He crossed the whitewash on nine occasions for his country.
Wyn Jones joined French side Toulon in July as injury cover during the World Cup and has to date made three appearances in the TOP 14.
Toulon have a proud tradition in EPCR competition having won the European Rugby Champions Cup in 2012/13, 2013/14 and 2014/15, and the EPCR Challenge Cup in May this year.
“I never thought I would be here finishing my career,” he said ahead of his final game against Clermont.
“I would just like to thank everyone, and hopefully, we can get the win at the weekend, which is the main thing.”
Toulon head coach Pierre Mignoni added: “He was instrumental in kicking off this season in terms of the attitude he brought to the game, and especially in his work ethic. This team needed it. I absolutely wanted him with us.”
