Alun Wyn Jones named Wales captain for Six Nations as Rob Howley tells Sam Warburton to 'get his mojo back'

Warburton steps down as captain after leading the side since 2011 and hands the role over to Jones, who is also favourite to skipper the British and Irish Lions this summer

Warburton has led Wales since 2011 (Getty Images)

Alun Wyn Jones has replaced Sam Warburton as Wales captain after interim head coach Rob Howley named his squad for the upcoming Six Nations with the hope that the flanker focuses on his form to “get his mojo back”.

The 36-man squad, which features seven uncapped players including Wasps back-row Thomas Young and Gloucester-bound Leicester Tigers fly-half Owen Williams, will be led by 31-year-old Jones as the 105-cap veteran takes over from Cardiff Blues flanker Warburton. The latter elected to stand down from the role he has filled since 2011, having led his nation at the Rugby World Cup in the same year as well as the 2015 edition, after a spate of injuries over the last four years and off-field distractions led to a decline in his performance.

Under Warburton’s reign, Wales reached the 2011 Rugby World Cup semi-finals and won the Six Nations Grand Slam in 2012 before retaining the championship the following year. But he 69-cap back-row has decided to hand the captaincy over to Jones – who filled in for Warburton when he was ruled out of the final British and Irish Lions Test against Australia four years ago – after discussing what was best for the team with Howley.

"Alun Wyn is vastly experienced, there is the manner he goes about things as a player, the respect and integrity he has among his peers," Howley said.

"He has captained Wales before, and the (British and Irish) Lions in the third Test in Australia in 2013.

"I sounded Alun Wyn out a couple of weeks ago and had discussions with Sam in the autumn series in terms of him being injured and changing his role from openside to number six.

"I met up with Sam on Monday and had a discussion with him. No-one is guaranteed their position, and the one thing with Alun Wyn is he is the first name on the team-sheet.

"With the talent we have got in the back-row, we just feel at this moment in time as a coaching team that it is best for Sam to concentrate on being the best that he can be, to get his mojo back and play to the best of his ability. Sam agreed with it.

"That was the conversation. Sam is very humble and very honest. He's been a successful captain for Wales over the last six years, and no doubt his experience will be crucial going into a very competitive Six Nations campaign.

"He didn't speak of his disappointment. He probably will be a bit disappointed, but it's the best decision moving forward for both Sam and Wales.”

Alun Wyn Jones will captain Wales for the Six Nations (Getty) (2016 Getty Images)

The move puts Jones in pole position to lead the Lions on this year’s tour of New Zealand, providing he comes through the Six Nations with his credentials intact, with regular Wales head coach Warren Gatland focusing on the Lions this season as he prepares to take charge of the side for the second consecutive tour. Howley revealed that he sought out Gatland over the decision to change the captaincy, and received the New Zealander’s approval.

"I phoned Warren when I spoke to Sam and Alun Wyn," he added. "In fairness to Warren, he backed the decision."

Jones will lead a squad that does still include Warburton as well as seven uncapped players, five of which feature in a Wales squad for the first time. Both Young and Williams have impressed in the Premiership this season, and they are joined in a maiden call-up by Ospreys flanker Olly Cracknell, Newport Gwent Dragons wing Ashton Hewitt and Scarlets full-back Steffan Evans.


 Gatland stepped away from the Wales role this season to focus on the Lions 
 (Getty)

Joining the uncapped quintet is Ospreys lock Rory Thortnton and Scarlets scrum-half Aled Davies, who could see their first taste of international action during the Six Nations after already being called up to previous squads, while the three overseas-based players selected by Howley are Bath’s Taulupe Faletau, Harlequins centre Jamie Roberts and Northampton Saints win George North. The Senior Player Selection Policy wildcard selection – known as ‘Gatland’s Law’ – rules that all but three players plying their trade outside of Wales are unavailable for selection, though Wales regulars Faletau, Roberts and North are included.

Tom Francis, Luke Charteris and Leigh Halfpenny are exempt from the rule and included in the squad, given they started their respective contracts with Exeter Chiefs, Bath and Toulon before the regulation was introduced at the start of the season, along with Young, Williams and Gloucester flanker Ross Moriarty.

George North is eligible despite playing outside of Wales (Getty)

Howley added: “There is a flavour of freshness too in the squad, with seven uncapped players deserving their opportunity and it will be exciting to see how they perform in the international set-up.

“It is shaping up to be another great Six Nations. We have the all-important carrot of Rugby World Cup seedings on the horizon post tournament and that is an important target for us, especially as we welcome the World’s No 2 [England] and No 4 [Ireland] ranked sides to [the] Principality Stadium over the coming months.”

Wales squad - 2017 RBS 6 Nations

Backs: L Halfpenny (Toulon), L Williams (Scarlets), G North (Northampton), S Evans (Scarlets), A Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), A Hewitt (Newport Gwent Dragons), S Williams (Scarlets), J Davies (Scarlets), J Roberts (Harlequins), O Williams (Leicester), S Davies (Ospreys), D Biggar (Ospreys), G Davies (Scarlets), R Webb (Ospreys), A Davies (Scarlets).

Forwards: S Andrews (Cardiff Blues), N Smith (Ospreys), R Evans (Scarlets), R Jones (Ospreys), T Francis (Exeter), S Lee (Scarlets), K Dacey (Cardiff Blues), K Owens (Scarlets), S Baldwin (Ospreys), J Ball (Scarlets), A W Jones (Ospreys, capt), R Thornton (Ospreys), L Charteris (Bath), C HIll (Newport Gwent Dragons), J King (Ospreys), J Tipuric (Ospreys), O Cracknell (Ospreys), R Moriarty (Gloucester), T Faletau (Bath), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues), T Young (Wasps).