Wales star Alun Wyn Jones has admitted that he has hopes of making it to the British and Irish Lions Tour of South Africa in 2021.

The towering second-row is considered to be one of the best in his position of all-time and if he were to make it to the tour he would be edging towards 35-years of age, and a fourth tour with the Lions. However, he is aware that he will need to be at the peak of his powers to be considered and is trying not to look too far ahead. 

“I am not going to lie, I am aware it’s there, but it’s a two-pronged answer. You are never going to say never, but you don’t want to be too greedy as well. I am fully aware you have to be fit and playing well to be selected. If the planets align and I am potentially still there, then it’s somebody else’s decision. The losses still hurt but they inspire you to go on as well. It does spur you on and make you want to go again,” he said. 

The lock appears to have turned back the years and seems to be playing his best rugby over the past year, having lead his side to a Six Nations Grand Slam and a fourth-place finish at the Rugby World Cup, as well as reaching the No 1 spot of the World Rugby rankings for the first time in the country’s history. 

However, the man who has overseen his growth in the national side, Warren Gatland, has stepped aside as head coach following his 12-year stay, with Wayne Pivac coming in and Jones is excited by the prospect of the new era ahead.

“One of the highlights of the year was the Grand Slam, but you also look at the likes of Josh Adams, Aaron Wainwright, Tomos Williams and others. People have had opportunities and stood up. That’s probably as big as a Grand Slam and with a new coach, it’s exciting times. I’ve sat down with him (Pivac) on a few occasions,” he added. 

Jones has confirmed that he will use his pain from losing out on the Rugby World Cup title to push on with his new head coach. 

“We are carrying a bit of hurt from the World Cup. I am on a personal level because we went out there believing we could win it. Having had the Sunday morning after Grand Slams and Championships and winning trophies you want that. Warren was honest, consistent and essentially really proud of what he did and what he created with Wales. The phrase has been coined that it’s Wayne’s World now. Wayne is going to do it in his way but carry on with some of the foundations that have been laid,” he finished up. 

Jones will be hoping to push on in the new year as Wales look to defend their Six Nations crown, while he will also continue his own individual push towards becoming the most-capped international player of all-time after going second this year. 

If he can keep up his current form over the next 18-months, he will surely be in contention for the Lions and could even be named captain as he would be reunited with his old friend Gatland, who will coach the side for a third successive tour.

The All Blacks have announced that Ian Foster will take on the role of head coach come 2020.

Foster, who was assistant to former head coach Steve Hansen for eight-years has signed a two-year deal with New Zealand and admitted he is over the moon to be given the opportunity to lead the team forward. 

“I feel truly privileged and honoured to be given this opportunity and I can’t wait to lead the team into the next chapter of what is a remarkable legacy. I’m incredibly proud of what we have achieved in the All Blacks over the last eight years and I’m excited and energised by a new coaching team who will join me. It’s incredibly humbling to be appointed to the job and I have a strong desire to serve the jersey well and represent New Zealand to the best of my ability,” he said. 

Foster came out on top of what is thought to have been a strong list of candidates for the position, with Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson closest to being handed the job besides Foster. 

New Zealand Rugby’s chairman Brent Impey was full of praise for his incoming head coach and noted how tough the interview process was for all candidates. 

“The NZR Board has today ratified Ian Foster as the new head coach of the All Blacks from 2020. He brings world-class international experience to the role, an incredibly strong coaching team, and we think he’ll do an outstanding job. The interview process was extensive and really difficult, which reflects the very strong applications from both candidates,” he said. 

He went on to confirm that Foster will have a strong set of back-room staff, but that they will announce them in due course, while he also congratulated the man who now takes the reins. 

“While we can’t confirm the full make-up of the coaching team today, we’re delighted with the quality they bring, they have a wide range of coaching experiences and are a diverse group of thinkers. On behalf of New Zealand Rugby, I want to congratulate Ian on his appointment, and we wish him well for this next phase in the All Blacks’ story,” he added. 

The likes of Warren Gatland and Jamie Joseph were among the candidates for the position, before withdrawing due to their own commitments to the Chiefs and Japan respectively. 

However, Foster already has the players behind him with star player Beauden Barrett stating previously that he was the best man for the job. Although with a two-year contract, there will be debate as to whether the All Blacks have a plan to bring a new man in come 2022 to replace the 54-year-old, maybe Robertson could be coming in after all.

Leinster have confirmed that star fly-half Johnny Sexton has suffered a medial tear in his right knee, while Ronan Kelleher has also had an injury set-back.

Sexton, who went off injured during Leinster’s 43-16 victory over Northampton Saints last Saturday, underwent scans on his knee yesterday and saw a specialist who revealed that he will miss between 6 and 8 weeks of action. 

The 34-year-old is set to miss the opening weekend’s of the 2020 Six Nations as a result, with the first fixture at home to Scotland on February 1st, with Wales coming to town a week later. 

It will remain to be seen how quickly he recovers, but the likelihood is that he will aim to be fit for Ireland’s third game away to England on the 23rd. 

However, his injury causes a slight selection headache for new head coach Andy Farrell, who at this moment is without Sexton and Joey Carbery, but the latter is expected to return from injury later this month. 

Although Sexton’s injury is a big blow, it could open the door once again for Connacht’s Jack Carty to get a run in the Irish line-up, while Leinster teammate Ross Byrne will take the reigns at club-level and with the form he is currently in, will fancy his chances of getting a call up to the national team having missed out on the Rugby World Cup squad. 

The injury also means that Sexton will miss all three of Leinster’s remaining Champions Cup pool fixtures as well as their three inter-provincial derbies over the coming month, with Byrne expected to be backed up by younger brother Harry and Ciaran Frawley. 

Although the bad news for both Leinster and Ireland doesn’t stop there with upcoming star hooker Ronan Kelleher expected to be side-lined for a period with a possible fractured hand, which he is thought to have suffered during last weekend’s game. 

It is thought that Kelleher was in poll position to earn his first call-up to the Irish side for the Six Nations after a blistering start to the season, but this may now dampen his hopes. 

Sean Cronin is believed to be nearing full-fitness once more, which would be a boost for both club and country as he could slot in seamlessly. 

The injuries are piling-up for Leinster, who will also miss centre Joe Tomane for the same period as Sexton through a hamstring injury, while Rory O’Loughlin will miss this weekend’s game with injury. 

James Ryan is also making his way through the back to play protocols after taking a knock to the head against the Saints, but could feature this Saturday. 

Leinster will hope that their squad can cope with the set-backs as they head into this weekend’s home fixture against Northampton, with younger stars now having the chance to lay a marker as the province look to make it 11 wins from 11 at the start of the season.