Alun Wyn Jones is a Swansea University law graduate and Welsh international rugby player.
Born in Swansea in 1985, he played his first rugby for Bonymaen RFC and, having previously represented Wales at under-21 level, he made his full International debut for Wales on a tour to Argentina in 2006.
Originally playing as a blindside flanker, he became a lock. It was as a lock that he featured, and excelled, in Wales' 2007 Six Nations campaign. He was a member of the Wales side that completed the Grand Slam in the 2008 Six Nations.
In March 2009 he captained Wales against Italy in the Six Nations, becoming the 126th player to be captain of the country.
In 2010 he was named as captain of the Ospreys and has retained the leadership of Wales’ most successful region ever since. The same year he completed a law degree which he had studied part-time at Swansea University.
He was named in Warren Gatland's British & Irish Lions squad to tour Australia in 2013 where he led the side to victory. In 2014, he captained the Welsh team on their tour of South Africa.
He is the current captain of the Wales national team and former captain of the Ospreys. He has the distinction of being the world's most-capped lock forward and Wales' most capped international player. He is one of a small group of Welsh players to have won three Grand Slams including Gerald Davies, Gareth Edwards, JPR Williams, Ryan Jones, Adam Jones and Gethin Jenkins. He was named as the best player of the 2019 Six Nations Championship.
In 2014, Alun Wyn was presented with an honorary degree from Swansea University. On receiving the award he said: “When I left University after a five-year degree, I thought my potential achievements going forward would have been centred around my rugby career. But to be awarded this is special and pretty humbling, and I thank the University. I fondly remember my time at Swansea and particularly a Varsity win. In the future, knowing a career in sport doesn’t last forever, I won’t rule out returning to further my qualifications.”
