Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones named player of Six Nations

Jones leads team to first Grand Slam win in seven years after thumping Ireland 25-7 last Saturday

Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones, centre, sings the national anthem during a ceremony marking the champions return home, after winning the 2019 Six Nations Grand Slam, in Cardiff, Wales, Monday March 18, 2019. Wales beat Ireland Saturday to take the Six Nations title. (Simon Galloway/PA via AP)
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Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones was on Friday named player of the 2019 Six Nations, having led his team to a first Grand Slam in seven years.

It was Jones' third tournament clean sweep, following other successes in 2008 and 2012. The Welsh thumped Ireland 25-7 at Cardiff's Principality Stadium last Saturday to clinch the Slam after previous victories over France (24-19), Italy (26-15), England (21-13) and Scotland (18-11).

"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," Jones said.

"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."

Jones is the fifth Wales player to be named player of the championship after Martyn Williams, Shane Williams, Dan Lydiate and Leigh Halfpenny. He is also the fourth forward to win the award, following Martyn Williams, Lydiate and Ireland's Paul O'Connell.

The shortlist for the accolade also comprised Wales teammates Hadleigh Parkes, Josh Adams and Liam Williams, and English pair Jonny May and Tom Curry.