Alan Wyn Jones walks out onto St Helena Street in Swansea with his children. Photo: Huw Evans Agency/Chris Fairweather
Whether this was the end remains to be seen, but if it was, it appropriately ended where it all began. Four miles from Bonymaen RFC, where the great Alan Wyn Jones first lifted the rugby ball, the curtain could be drawn at the historic St Helen's Ground in Swansea on one of the most illustrious careers in Welsh rugby history.
That Jones' swansong in Swansea was not with his favorite ospreys was immaterial. Here, in front of a crowded crowd on a warm night in rugby's spiritual home of Swansea, the castle proved to be for barbarians and «whites» alike — playing 50 minutes for the barbarians and the rest — for the hosts — to take their toll. a place in the pantheon of great clubs, warriors like Robert Jones and Scott Gibbs, and will end his career just as it began at St. Helen.
And for the first time in 19 years, regardless of the score, which was 68-33 in favor of the famous guest side, Jones was the winner.
Lock is a veteran of four British and Irish Lions tours and 170 caps for Wales and the United Home Nations teams; he is the most prolific rugby player of all time, with three Six Nations Grand Slams to his credit, but for all the fame that goes with such feats, that says a lot about the man he chose to say goodbye to his people in the south. Wales.
Amidst ice cream and bouncy castles, the surly striker became a child again — fortunately after his failure at Twickenham on Sunday, he was relieved of the duties of scoring goals — he hung around to get an autograph and a photo. -hunters after the final whistle.
It contained all the echoes of homecoming and at the same time farewell.
The 37-year-old, who has yet to confirm a full retirement from rugby despite his contract ending, has not been as determined as his second-row Barbarian teammate Bradley Davies. It was Davies' final professional rugby appearance after a dazzling career that included 66 Welsh caps and appearances at Osprey, Cardiff and the Wasps.
Welsh rugby has gone through the mill this season and the national team is threatening strike in the Six Nations over contract disputes. For Davies, it was a reminder of all the good things that were good about sports in Wales.
“Coming here to St. Helen, full, with a crowd on the shore, a good day is my memory of Welsh rugby,” said Davies. “It was a 100 percent return. This is what we are missing. I watched Ponti[pool] against Cardiff on Boxing Day any day of the week.
“Alan Wien is a fantastic player and no one has ever achieved what he has achieved. We probably fought over the same shirt for 15 years — he took 100 baseball caps off me! He is a good friend of mine and you can see what that means to him. Before the game, he was upset, with tears in his eyes. He is a very passionate person.”
Webb becomes third Welsh veteran to retire ahead of World Cup
Jones' Osprey teammate Reece Webb yesterday became the third Welsh training veteran of 54 players to retire in the midst of the World Cup. preparing for the World Cup this year.
The 34-year-old, who has played twice for the Lions, is following in the footsteps of Jones and Justin Tipurik, who retired from the national team in early May.
Announcing the decision on Instagram, Webb said the «uncertainty and difficulties» in Welsh rugby meant he was forced to take the opportunity to play overseas at club level next season. The announcement was made 100 days before the World Expo in France.
Wales' 60 caps rule, which has since been abolished, meant that Webb could not play in the 2019 World Cup because he only had 28 caps when he moved to Toulon, so the scrum half will now complete his career without representing his country. at the Rugby Blue Ribbon event.
In a statement, Webb said: “Recently it was a huge honor to have the opportunity to play for Wales again and I am proud to have been named in preparation for the World Cup.
However, while I would have been happy to end my career playing for the Welsh region, the current uncertainty and difficulties in Welsh rugby meant there was little scope for a contract that would provide security for the coming years when I plan my professional career.
“I feel that now is the right time for me to step away from international rugby and just enjoy my final years as a professional rugby player.< /p>
“I would like to thank the osprey for continuing to believe in me – even when my absence from the Welsh squad sometimes made me doubt my own abilities – and Warren [Gatland] for giving me the chance to put on the famous red jersey again '.
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