Dan Biggar has retained the Wales captaincy for a three-Test series away to world champions South Africa in July even though Alun Wyn Jones is in the squad announced on Wednesday. Fly-half Biggar took over leadership duties for this season’s Six Nations while Jones continued his recovery from a long-term shoulder problem.
Former skipper Jones, 36, rugby union’s most-capped player of all time, returned to Wales duty in their Six Nations finale against Italy in March.
But the British and Irish Lions lock’s joy at be-coming the first player to win 150 caps for a single country was cut short by Italy’s stunning 22-21 win in Cardiff that ended the Azzurri’s seven-year wait for a Six Nations victory. “We’ve obviously got great leadership in the group with Alun Wyn and Dan,” said Wales coach Wayne Pivac after announcing a 33-man squad to face the Springboks.
“Dan did well in the Six Nations and Al has come back from a pretty big lay-off. “He has had a little bit of rugby and we want him to hit his straps as a second-row and be the best player he can be and focus on playing.—APP
