(Reuters) – Alun Wyn Jones, the former Wales and British & Irish Lions captain, disclosed that he was diagnosed with a heart condition towards the end of his almost 20-year career. At 38 years old, he holds the record for the most capped player in rugby, with 158 appearances for Wales and 12 for the Lions. He signed with French club Toulon in July on a short-term contract, which came to an end in November. In May, Jones had announced his retirement from international rugby.
In an interview with The Telegraph, he revealed, “I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. It was discovered when I underwent a full medical check, which included an ECG test, when I joined Toulon in July.”
Expressing concern about the welfare of rugby players, Jones raised the question, “There is a lot of talk about welfare in rugby at the minute, but does that cover everything? Is it just things that we can afford? Surely, the sport has come on to the point where players should be screened more often, especially at a time when the demands in the game are growing.”
Jones expressed gratitude to Toulon, saying, “Had they not offered me a contract, I may never have known about the heart condition.” He added, “The cardiac doctor picked it up straight away. My heartbeat was like a galloping horse with six legs. It was all over the shop.”
Before making the decision to play for Toulon, Jones sought medical advice. He explained, “It might seem a selfish decision given that I have three young daughters, but I needed to take the opportunity. It was only going to be for four months, and it gave me an opportunity to experience and get perspective on my career and life.”
(Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
