‘Six weeks of R&R is what Alun Wyn needs, he’s had a lot of responsibility’
WALES skipper Alun Wyn Jones is currently on an ‘extended break’ to allow injury niggles from the Rugby World Cup to heal.
The 34-year-old was the driving force behind Wales’ defence in Japan, finishing as the tournament’s top tackler with 77 hits.
Jones was always going to be afforded a six-week break from rugby from the end of the tournament but that may be longer as he battles to overcome a groin injury.
As such, the indomitable lock is yet to be seen for the Ospreys and won’t feature for Wales against the Barbarians later this month.
“He has a little bit of a groin niggle,” revealed new Wales head coach Wayne Pivac.
“He’ll have an extended break. He was always going to get a six-week recovery period.
“In terms of the players with knocks, Prav (Mathema) our head of medical and Bobby (Paul Stridgeon) our head of strength and conditioning, have had a lot of input and recommendations with regards to the time off.
“There’s some science behind it, we haven’t just picked a random number for players.
“It’s been based on their volumes and the knocks that they’ve had. You’ve got to remember that these guys have been going since June.
“It’s been a heck of a workload, not only physically but mentally as well.
“Alun Wyn has also had the responsibility of being captain, so he has a six-week lay-off.”
With a contract currently taking him up to 2021 with the Ospreys, the lock is expected to be carefully managed to prolong his career at the top level.
He is one of a number of players who were unavailable to Pivac as he named his first Wales squad today.
The likes of Liam Williams, George North, Jonathan Davies, Josh Navidi and Tomas Francis all featured in Japan but are currently sidelined with injuries.
Rhys Carre and Dan Biggar are also unavailable for the Barbarians game because it falls outside the international window and their English clubs are not required to release them for the fixture.