Alun Wyn Jones, the world’s most capped rugby union player, has announced his retirement from the international game - less than four months before Wales' World Cup opener.
The 37-year-old, who played 158 times for Wales and made 12 British and Irish Lions Test appearances, has surprisingly stepped down on the same day that Wales flanker Justin Tipuric, who won 93 caps, had announced his decision to quit Test rugby. Wales face Fiji in Bordeaux in their World Cup opener on September 10.
The former Wales captain said in a statement: "Having been selected in the preliminary RWC squad and after ongoing dialogue with the coaching staff and WRU I have decided to step away from the international game.
