Alun Wyn deal lets him go to World Cup
WALES have given Alun Wyn Jones the green light to reach the ultimate goal of his monumental career at the age of 38.
A clause in the one-year renewal of his contract makes provision for a further extension taking him through to a final crack at the World Cup after two semi-finals lost by a combined margin of four points.
His agreement with the WRU contains the option for an additional 17-month period from the end of next season through to the finish of the World Cup.
Jones would become the first British player to compete at five World Cups, a feat of endurance set by Samoan centre Brian Lima in 2007 and matched only by Italy’s Sergio Parisse, in Japan in 2019.
“Alun Wyn is the complete pro who has always been his own man,’’ a Welsh rugby source said. “It was his decision to take it one season at a time and the option is there for one more season through to the World Cup. He wants to make sure he earns the right to continue by maintaining his phenomenal level of performance.”
While one Welsh career shows no sign of ending, another remains uncertain. Gareth Anscombe, who steered Wales to their last Grand Slam, has still not played since damaging a knee during against Eng
land at Twickenham in August 2019.
After two operations, Ospreys had hoped he would have made his long overdue debut by now following his decision to leave Cardiff. Instead they are resigned to being without him for a second successive season with head coach Toby Booth admitting that an Anscombe come-back is ‘not on the very near horizon’.
Anscombe, 30 next month, need only look at a former Cardiff team-mate for an inspiring example of returning from longterm injury. Ellis Jenkins made a try-scoring PRO14 come-back in February, 27 months after shattering a knee seconds from the end of his man-of-the-match display against South Africa in November 2018.
OSPREYS head coach Toby Booth says he is unsure whether Wales flyhalf Gareth Anscombe will return before the end of the season from a serious knee injury.
Anscombe has not featured since suffering the injury while playing for Wales against England in August 2019 at Twickenham. The 29-year-old posted pictures on social media of him running this week but has not returned to full training.
“He’s still in the rehab phase and isn’t involved with us,” said Booth. “I don’t know if I’m honest when he’ll be back... there is nothing on the very near horizon of him being involved.
“We take the nature of his injury on a weekly basis. We’ll keep looking into it, keep building it up and see where it takes us.
“It’s governed by how he responds to training and how he feels about it.
“With the nature of that sort of injury you’re going to have to put together a few weeks of training because you need to build up some resistance to injury and fatigue.”
Ospreys’ Wales lock Bradley Davies is ready to return to action after suffering a shoulder injury against Munster in November 2020. Scrumhalf Rhys Webb is also recovering from a shoulder injury and could recover before the end of the Rainbow Cup.