Lions captain Alun Wyn Jones to join tour in South Africa
British and Irish Lions’ captain Alun Wyn Jones holds the trophy at the end the friendly rugby match between British and Irish Lions and Japan at the Murrayfield stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland, Saturday, June 26, 2021. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
British and Irish Lions’ captain Alun Wyn Jones, middle, walks out of the fields as he is assisted by the team medical staff member during a friendly rugby match between British and Irish Lions and Japan at the Murrayfield stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland, Saturday, June 26, 2021. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
British and Irish Lions’ players reacts at the end of the warm-up rugby match between South Africa’s Sharks and British and Irish Lions at the Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria, South Africa, Saturday, July 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
British and Irish Lions’ head coach Warren Gatland leaves the field before the start of the warm-up rugby match between South Africa’s Sharks and British and Irish Lions at the Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria, South Africa, Saturday, July 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
British and Irish Lions’ lcoach Warren Gatland attends a training session in Sandton, South Africa, Monday, July 5, 2021. (Christiaan Kotze/Pool Photo via AP)
British and Irish Lions’ captain Alun Wyn Jones holds the trophy at the end the friendly rugby match between British and Irish Lions and Japan at the Murrayfield stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland, Saturday, June 26, 2021. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
British and Irish Lions’ captain Alun Wyn Jones holds the trophy at the end the friendly rugby match between British and Irish Lions and Japan at the Murrayfield stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland, Saturday, June 26, 2021. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
British and Irish Lions’ captain Alun Wyn Jones, middle, walks out of the fields as he is assisted by the team medical staff member during a friendly rugby match between British and Irish Lions and Japan at the Murrayfield stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland, Saturday, June 26, 2021. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
British and Irish Lions’ captain Alun Wyn Jones, middle, walks out of the fields as he is assisted by the team medical staff member during a friendly rugby match between British and Irish Lions and Japan at the Murrayfield stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland, Saturday, June 26, 2021. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
British and Irish Lions’ players reacts at the end of the warm-up rugby match between South Africa’s Sharks and British and Irish Lions at the Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria, South Africa, Saturday, July 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
British and Irish Lions’ players reacts at the end of the warm-up rugby match between South Africa’s Sharks and British and Irish Lions at the Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria, South Africa, Saturday, July 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
British and Irish Lions’ head coach Warren Gatland leaves the field before the start of the warm-up rugby match between South Africa’s Sharks and British and Irish Lions at the Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria, South Africa, Saturday, July 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
British and Irish Lions’ head coach Warren Gatland leaves the field before the start of the warm-up rugby match between South Africa’s Sharks and British and Irish Lions at the Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria, South Africa, Saturday, July 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
British and Irish Lions’ lcoach Warren Gatland attends a training session in Sandton, South Africa, Monday, July 5, 2021. (Christiaan Kotze/Pool Photo via AP)
British and Irish Lions’ lcoach Warren Gatland attends a training session in Sandton, South Africa, Monday, July 5, 2021. (Christiaan Kotze/Pool Photo via AP)
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — British and Irish Lions captain Alun Wyn Jones has made a remarkable recovery from a dislocated left shoulder and will join the tour in South Africa, the team said Wednesday.
Jones was injured in a warmup game against Japan in Scotland on June 26 and had been ruled out of the tour.
But he made a rapid recovery and trained with the Wales squad on Tuesday. He was declared fit to play on Wednesday, the Lions said. He will arrive in Cape Town on Thursday, putting him in contention to play in the first test against the Springboks on July 24.
“We are delighted to welcome Alun Wyn back,” head coach Warren Gatland said. “It’ll come as no surprise to anyone who knows Alun Wyn that since injuring his shoulder against Japan, he’s done everything he can to get himself back.
“It’s remarkable really when you consider it’s just 18 days since he left us in Edinburgh.”
Jones had “a proper hit out” with the Wales squad and proved his fitness, Gatland said, and he was now “raring to go.”
“It’s a massive boost for the Lions to welcome a player of Alun Wyn’s stature back,” Gatland said.
The 35-year-old Jones has more test caps than any other player in rugby with 148 international appearances for Wales and nine tests for the Lions. He has been on three previous Lions tours.
Conor Murray had been named captain for the tour in place of Jones. The Lions didn’t say if Jones would take over the captaincy again.
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