Alun Wyn Jones describes an ‘honour and privilege’ as he prepares for 150th cap

Alun Wyn Jones has described it as “an honour and a privilege” as he prepares to win his 150th Wales cap and make rugby union history.

The 36-year-old returns to Wales’ starting line-up against Guinness Six Nations opponents Italy on Saturday.

It will be his first appearance for more than four months, having undergone two operations after suffering a shoulder injury during Wales’ Autumn Nations Series loss to New Zealand.

Lock Jones’ latest landmark means he will become the first player in international rugby to feature 150 times for their country.

He broke former New Zealand captain Richie McCaw’s world record of 148 Test match appearances in October 2020, having played 140 Wales games and featured in nine British and Irish Lions Tests at that time.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, that delayed Six Nations appointment with Scotland was played behind closed doors at Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli.

But this weekend, an expected Principality Stadium crowd of more than 60,000 will acclaim one of Welsh rugby’s all-time greats as he makes it 150 for Wales and 162 Test matches in total following three more Lions outings last summer.

“To be the first to do anything is an honour and a privilege,” Jones said, in a video interview released by the Welsh Rugby Union.

“But I think to do it for Wales and to pull this jersey on as many times as I have isn’t wasted on me, particularly when you realise what rugby means to the nation.

“There will be people who will have played far more games of rugby than me for their local clubs across Wales.

“They’ve got their place in their local history, and I’ve got people here that saw me come into this squad as not far off being a child, and now they are going to see me taking my children out for