As Wales gets thrashed in the Six Nations, ex captain Alun Wyn Jones speaks his mind over the teams performance, and says he’s buried the hatchet with Joe Marler
Six years after former England prop Joe Marler infamously grabbed his genitals during a Six Nations match, ex-Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones says they’ve finally buried the hatchet. Speaking after France trashed Wales 12-54 on Sunday, Alun says: “I think they’re old enough, big enough and experienced enough to not want people to defend their performances at the minute.”
The latest defeat means the proud rugby playing nation has not won a Six Nations home match since defeating Scotland in February 2022. Add Sunday’s disaster to the 7-48 loss to England they suffered in the first match of this year’s tournament and it’s safe to say that the future in the competition looks bleak.
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But, more interested in discussing Celebrity Traitors than rugby – knowing Joe Marler came fourth as a Faithful on the first series – it seems Alun, 40, still can’t resist a dig. He says, with a wry smile: “I don’t think I would be good on Celeb Traitors. I’m not a very good liar, I think I’m too authentic.”
The pair have been sparring ever since their 2020 scuffle resulted in Joe being suspended for 10 weeks. As recently as last month, Joe, 35, called Alun, who is regarded as one of the greatest locks in history and is the world’s most-capped rugby player – with 170 caps in total, 158 for Wales and 12 for British and Irish Lions – “massively overrated”. But their banter is good natured, according to Alun, now a BBC rugby pundit, who is working with Joe on a fun marketing campaign for IHG Hotels and Resorts. He reveals: “We’’ve been working together. We’re cracking on!”
On the winning teams when Wales stormed to Six Nations Grand Slam victory in 2008, 2012 and 2019 – as well as being there for their 2013 championship title – Alun won Wales’ Sports Personality of the Year Award in 2019. Playing in four World Cups, he was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s 2020 Birthday Honours for his services to rugby union in Wales.
And he can’t ignore the national side’s dismal current form, that also saw them experience a humiliating 48-7 defeat against England in their first Six Nations game. He says of their performance: “I wouldn’t have made any excuses. As a Welshman, I’ll continue to believe in the team. Like we were supported when we had tough times.
“There’s a lot of improvements required across the board. Performance comes before results. I’m sure they’re aware of that. It’s probably just going to take a little bit longer than we thought.” Alun, who has a law degree from Swansea University, is married to Anwen Jones, 34, a lecturer of Physiology and Health at Cardiff Metropolitan University. He now works one day a week as a strategic advisor in Swansea University’s National Institute of Sport and Health.
Living in Swansea with Anwen and their three daughters, aged 10, seven and two, Alun was diagnosed with the heart condition atrial fibrillation – a common, irregular, and often rapid heart rate caused by chaotic electrical signals in the heart’s upper chambers or atria – after retiring from international rugby in 2023.
It was discovered after he signed a short term contract with French team Toulon, during a routine ECG test. The condition can lead to blood clots, a five-times higher stroke risk, and potential heart failure. Alun says: “I’m still here and not on medication because I caught it early. Some of the signs and signals for atrial fibrillation are not innocuous but they’re relatively similar to other things you might get – palpitations, lethargy, tiredness.
“The scary thing is, had I not gone to France, if I’d just retired, maybe it wouldn’t have been picked up and I would be at risk of… well it doesn’t even bare thinking about and I can’t even go there to be honest. Touch wood things are fine for me. It’s made me more aware in retirement of keeping up with things – catching up with the GP, dentist, trying not to be too male about things and putting it off. It was a general kick up the backside. The future is fine as far as I know. I’ve got to track it, I use a mini ECG, and I don’t do it all the time because I do believe in the psychology that with something preexisting you’re almost waiting for something to come back.”
Recently named Honorary Colonel of the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Welsh — an appointment personally signed off by His Majesty King Charles III – Alun says retiring from professional rugby has made him a better dad. He explains: “For eight years of my eldest’s existence, I was away for 67% of the time.” Laughing, he adds: “I probably get in the way now!”
Despite his sporting background, he says he is not a competitive or pushy parent, adding: “I just want to be a crutch and a support for them, like my parents were for me. Whatever they do or they don’t do, I’m proud of them.” But, despite making it to the final three on Celebrity Masterchef last year, he says he hasn’t tried his new culinary skills out on his family.
He says: “You know, I’ve got so much PTSD from doing Masterchef, I think I’ve cognitively forgotten it. I haven’t actually cooked at that level since I did the show. One, I don’t have the gear and two, I’d have to do all the washing up.” These days, not only has the former rugby great made peace with his ex-England rival, Joe Marler, he has also become content within himself.
He says: “I want to be happy, it’s as simple as that. You can chase fame and fortune, but nobody ever talks about being happy. If I get 20 years down the line and my kids want to come home and spend time with me then I know I’ve done something right.”
*Alun Wyn Jones helps fans make the most of match weekends throughout Guinness Six Nations with the official hotel partner IHG Hotels and Resorts’ Fancierge service, offering complimentary experiences available to book throughout the Championships. ihgfancierge.com
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