Sunday Snippets

Time up for Jones: Legendary tight head prop forward Adam Jones has called time on his international career with Wales, after amassing a staggering 95 Test appearances for his country. Having been a stalwart for Wales in the five years until last season’s Six Nations, Jones has since lost his starting jersey to a string of incumbents, most notably the Scarlets’ Samson Lee who looks a genuine prospect on the right side of the scrum. The final nail in Jones’ international coffin came last week when his name was left out of Warren Gatland’s Six Nations squad, with club mate Scott Andrews selected ahead of him despite being lower in the pecking order at domestic club side, the Cardiff Blues. At 33, Jones arguably still has a lot to offer over the coming years, but having struggled during last year’s tour of South Africa, including the infamous 30 minute match in June, all his efforts will now go into the Blues’ campaign in the Pro12 and Europe. Sadly for the former Osprey Jones, his name will not enter the centurion club, although some may say he is already there with five Lions test matches to his name. 

Lancaster worries: England head coach Stuart Lancaster must be wondering what he has to do to get through a weekend without yet more injury worries, after yesterday saw both Geoff Parling and Tom Wood succumb to knocks during Champions Cup action. Parling limped off during Leicester’s mauling away in Belfast at the hands of Irish province Ulster, with coach Richard Cockerill confirming the second row had incurred damage to his MCL on the inside of his knee. According to Cockerill, the British and Irish Lion will sit out the coming three weeks, throwing his availability for England’s Six Nations opener with Wales into serious doubt. Elsewhere, backrower Tom Wood was forced from the field during Northampton’s equally demoralising defeat at home to Racing Metro. Confirmed by Saints boss Jim Mallinder as a troublesome ankle injury, Wood remains likely to be available for selection although it will be a tough race against time to regain full fitness.

Ryan Sheady