BIG PERSONALITY!

Six Nations success sees Wales icon among favourites for BBC award

THE odds on Alun Wyn Jones winning the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award have been slashed after he led Wales to their Six Nations title.

The Welsh skipper (left) is among the early names being tipped to make the shortlist, his odds having been cut from 50/1 to 16/1.

Jones finds himself on a par with England and Manchester United football star Marcus Rashford, who has hit the headlines with his free school meals campaign.

Jones’s stock and prospects of being crowned Sports Personality of the Year will rise further if Warren Gatland chooses him as Lions captain for the tour of South Africa this summer and they beat the world champion Springboks.

Rashford will also boost his own chances by shining for England at this summer’s Euros, the same applying to Harry Kane, who is a popular early choice at 10/1 from 14/1 as he prepares to captain his country at the delayed finals.

Sprinter Dina Asher-smith is the current front-runner at 7/1 ahead of the Olympics in Tokyo, where medal success will see her odds shorten further.

Others being backed include Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, who are set to have two unification world heavyweight title fights this year, Formula One world champion

Lewis Hamilton and cyclist Laura Kenny.

Lawrence Lyons, spokesperson for Boylesports, said: “The Euros and Olympics could well throw up a stand-out candidate for Sports Personality of the Year, but Alun Wyn Jones is one of the biggest movers in the market so far.

“He’s into 16/1 from 50/1 following the Six Nations and he’d certainly be a bad result for us if he went on to win it.”