Wales MUST hold onto Alun Wyn Jones warn Ospreys

Wales are being urged to secure the longer-term future of their ‘most valuable asset’ – Lions lock Alun-Wyn Jones.
The commanding Ospreys captain, whose senior Lions partner Paul O’Connell has confirmed his post-World Cup transfer to Toulon, will be a free agent at the end next season unless he agrees a new deal between now and then.
The subject will be high on the WRU’s agenda as their 47-man training squad prepare for the first of their summer camps next month in the Swiss Alps. “I think Alun-Wyn Jones is the single most valuable asset in Welsh rugby,” says Ospreys’ chief executive Andrew Hore.
“His professional standards for region and country are second to none. He is in his prime and his best years are ahead of him.
“He has special leadership characteristics which we in Wales cannot afford to lose.   We are encouraging the Union to start talks about extending his dual contract beyond next season and while we’d like something to be done as soon as possible, we understand Alun-Wyn may prefer to wait until after the World Cup. That’s an indication of how focused he is on his preparation for the tournament.   He is happy at the Ospreys and positive about what we are doing.
“He has achieved a lot in Wales and has a lot more to achieve.   He has ambitions and would probably like to experience playing abroad at some stage.  We hope that is some years away.”
Jones, at 29 six years younger than O’Connell, is due to play his 100th Test during the World Cup. He has averaged almost 30 games a season for the last ten seasons, figures without equal among front-five international forwards.
Having studied part-time to gain a degree in law from Swansea University, Jones has always been his own man. At the height of the uncivil war waged against the regions by the WRU, Jones stood four-square with the embattled Ospreys.
In January 2014 he turned down a WRU central contract because they could not guarantee then that he would continue to play for his home region. He chose to sign for the Ospreys instead.
PETER JACKSON