AWJ:THE WALES LEGEND JUST GOES

ALUN WYN JONES has been denied the chance to celebrate becoming a world record holder with his family.

The Welsh Government turned down a request from the WRU for them to attend today’s behind-closed-doors game against Scotland.

The Wales captain (right) will break All Black Richie Mccaw’s Test record when he wins his 149th cap at Parc y Scarlets – but lockdown means wife Anwen and daughters Mali and Efa cannot attend. “Permission was asked from the Government for exceptional circumstances,” revealed Jones. “But in the grand scheme, one day in a lifetime is nothing considering we are in a hard lockdown and large parts of Wales were in local lockdowns before that. Our families are very understanding.

“The difficult part is if this was an away game, it would be easy to take in many ways, but the fact it’s at home and we can’t have fans and we can’t have family... it is what it is. The ability to just have the game is far and away the overriding pleasing point of it all.”

Despite not having his family in the stadium, Jones will carry them in his heart as he breaks the record.

He said: “When you move up the ladder of elite sport the support you have is second to none – particularly with what we have at the WRU.

“It is a credit to my parents and my family for being the backstop when there is injury or decisions to be made on where, what, who you play for. I’ve been very fortunate to have my mum, my sister and my dad – when he was around – and then my wife and the girls.

“They have definitely kept me grounded these last few years as they are maturing faster than ever.”

Wyn Jones has come a long way since breaking into the Wales team but the 35-year-old will attempt to push the record higher, insisting he has no plans to retire.

He added: “I think it’s comparative to anyone in any job, whether you’re a