Alun Wyn faces nervy wait over Lions fitness

ALUN WYN JONES will this week learn if he remains in the running to captain the British Lions as he undergoes a scan on a worrying left shoulder injury.

Jones, who skippered Warren Galtand’s Lions in the final Test of their 2-1 win over Australia in 2013, is again in the frame to lead the side against new Zealand this summer.

But the 31-year-old lock forward will be sweating on his fitness situation after being forced from the field in Wales’ dramatic 20-18 Six Nations defeat to France.

Jones will find out the severity of his problem in the next few days, but he will definitely miss the Ospreys’ European Challenge Cup quarter-final with Stade Francais on April 2.

The influential forward was hurt hitting a ruck in the second half at the Stade de France and television pictures showed him in severe pain as he emerged from a pile of bodies.

Jones initially played on, but was eventually forced from the field in the 51st minute to be replaced by Luke Charteris.

Wales’ poor performances have failed to stop Jones being mentioned as a potential Lions skipper, and his experience makes him a virtual certainty to make Gatland’s squad if fit.

But his injury concern will be a big worry for Kiwi coach Gatland, who faces a tough task to select a captain from a wealth of northern hemisphere riches.

Wales flanker Sam Warburton, who gave up the Wales captaincy to Jones, and England centre Owen Farrell are also options for Gatland to consider as skipper following impressive personal Six Nations campaigns.