Alun Wyn Jones has capped off his dream Six Nations with the ultimate accolade of being named the player of the championship for 2019.
The 33-year-old skipper was the driving force behind Wales wowing the world last weekend with their 25-7 victory over 2018 Grand Slam champions Ireland, in Cardiff, completing the tournament clean sweep.
Jones was the model of consistency throughout the Six Nations and last weekend drew level with Gethin Jenkins' record of 134 Test appearances.
He's just 15 caps short of overhauling New Zealand legend Richie McCaw’s all-time record of 148.
Jones said: “I’m very flattered to be named the Guinness Six Nations Player of the Championship. For me as the captain, it’s a validation of what we’ve done as a squad throughout the campaign.
“To be up there as a nominee with three other Welsh players and two outstanding players from England would have been more than enough and I’m very grateful to the people who have taken the time to vote.”
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The Ospreys star has beaten fellow Welshmen Hadleigh Parkes, Josh Adams and Liam Williams to the award, as well as England's Jonny May and Tom Curry.
He also skippered the Lions in their historic tour-winning Test against Australia in 2013 and was also in the side that secured the famous drawn series against New Zealand in 2017.
He was the first player to play nine consecutive British Lions tests in the professional era and has appeared in an Ospreys shirt more times than any other player.
And now Jones is the fifth Welshman to be awarded the accolade of Six Nations player of the year and the first since Leigh Halfpenny in 2013 following in the footsteps of Martyn Williams (2005), Shane Williams (2008) and Dan Lydiate (2012).
