Welsh fans expect Alun Wyn Jones to make lucrative move as speculation mounts
With Wales’ Grand Slam winning captain Alun Wyn Jones’ dual contract with the Welsh Rugby Union and the Ospreys set to expire at the end of the season, fans are speculating his next move on social media.
The 33-year-old has been with the Ospreys for the entirety of his career so far, and has not opted for a more lucrative contract in France or England that some of him compatriots have done over the years. However, many Welsh fans feel that the 125-cap lock deserves a move away in the final years of his career.
With Warren Gatland set to coach the British and Irish Lions in 2021 in South Africa, Jones is the favourite to lead the team in what would be his fourth tour, which is why some feel he may stay in Wales. However, as he has over 60 caps for his country, that would not rule him out of national selection if he were to move after the World Cup.
A rugby career is only a finite amount of time, and the Welsh fans understand that it is in his interests financially to make a move away from the Liberty Stadium, as many of Europe’s elite clubs will be after the Six Nations Player of the Championship.
Furthermore, fans of various clubs across England have started speculating a move for Jones across the Severn.
This is what the fans are saying:
If I was him I would look after the interest of his family and his future and have a couple of years earning a big salary at a big European club. After all the effort he has given to his Welsh shirt I doubt anyone in Wales would begrudge him leaving.
— Marc Davies (@MarcDav403572) June 4, 2019
@Harlequins please please please sign Alun Wyn Jones, I am convinced we will win the prem within 2 years if we sign
— davos seaworth (@Josephconway8) June 3, 2019
Quins? They've just lost a SH legend. Time to replace him with a NH one.
— Small Man Peaky (@jonnymango95) June 3, 2019
Coming to Quins would be great.
— Jan Scott (@JanScott123) June 3, 2019
I think he'd go to England (or France, but can't see it) for the payday, yes.
And the big middle finger to everyone who'll tell him that "his body's too old for week in, week out rugby".
I'd love to see him in the Prem.
— Ben Owen John (@BenOwenJohn) June 3, 2019
Go to France for silly money and live by the sea. He deserves it.
— Tim Morgan (@TeddyLendyWendy) June 3, 2019
Head over to France in the sun and pick up some decent ?
— Michael Rees (@MikeRees27) June 3, 2019
I would take one of the many lucrative offers he’s bound to be offered in England or France. He deserves a big pay day.
— Ian Williams (@IanRedeyes) June 4, 2019
Deserves a big move to France. Done it all in #cymru #welshlegend
— Huw Evans ????????? (@EvsNo8) June 3, 2019
Alun wyn jones needs a new challenge before it’s to late! You got one of the best locks in world ? rugby playing in a Mickey Mouse league?
— nigel (@Adamsul57084797) June 3, 2019
Take a massive pay day in England/France . Got 2 or 3 good years left .
— Chris (@chris_jones41) June 3, 2019
Any team in the World would benefit from having AWJ in the car park, let alone as part of a club!! He deserves a good financial return for all the experience, sacrifice & commitment over the years. Let the bidding commence (probably beginning in French!) 😉
— Gerwyn Williams (@GerwynWilliams) June 3, 2019
After losing former Wallabies skipper James Horwill this season, Harlequins fans are calling for Jones to make the move to south west London after the World Cup, as he could be one of the two players outside of the salary cap.
Ultimately, being the servant that he is to Welsh rugby, Jones would only make the move away if he was offered a significant salary rise. Unfortunately for the Ospreys, the majority of clubs in Europe, or even Japan, would be willing to meet the demands of one of the best players on the planet currently.
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Comments on RugbyPass
It was a pleasure to watch those guys playing with such confidence. That trio can all be infuriating for different reasons and I can see why Jones might have decided against them. No way to justify leaving Ikitau out though. Jorgensen and him were both scheduled to return at the same time. Only one of them plays for Randwick and has a dad who is great mates with the national coach though.
53 Go to commentsBrayden Iose and Peter Lakai are very exciting Super Rugby players but are too short and too light to ever be a Test 8 vs South Africa, France, Ireland, and England, Lakai could potentially be a Test player at 7 if he is allowed to focus on 7 for Hurricanes.
5 Go to commentsPencils “Thomas du Toit” into possible 2027 Bok squad.
1 Go to commentsDon’t see why Harrison makes the bench. Jones can play at 10 if needed, and there is a good case for starting her there to begin with if testing combinations. That would leave room for Sing on the bench
1 Go to commentsWhat a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.
29 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
5 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
5 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to comments