Jones flattered at Lions link

Wales captain Ryan Jones is flattered to be considered a potential candidate to lead the Lions on their 2009 tour of South Africa.

Jones’ performances in guiding Wales to the top of the RBS 6 Nations table with three straight victories have caught the eye of former England and Lions hooker Brian Moore.

Wales are now in pole position to the claim the title – and if they clinch the triple crown in Ireland next week they have shot at a second grand slam triumph in four years.

Jones has led from the front – he is the leading ball-carrier in the competition with 29 from three matches – and Moore said this week: “Wales benefit from the leadership on and off the field of Ryan Jones, who is a potential Lions leader.”

But Jones is determined not to be distracted by talk of the Lions and insists his focus is only bringing home the triple crown trophy from Dublin a week on Saturday.

“I hope Brian Moore is picking the Lions squad,” he joked.

“It is flattering. Of course, it’s nice to hear things like that. But you try not to get involved in it and stay away from it all.

“You can’t think about things like that. It means nothing until that selection comes. There was talk I would go on the last Lions tour. But the phone call never came, and I went as a replacement in the end.

“A lot can happen in rugby. In the last six months, we have gone from the disappointment of the World Cup to the verge of something special.

“Us winning does have a huge positive effect. Everyone is talking about it, and there is a real bounce about things. But Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards have taught us to be quite insular.

“We are on the verge of something special – but we have to take one game at a time.”

Jones played a key role in Wales’ 2005 grand slam campaign before linking up successfully with the Lions, and his long injury-enforced absences have not helped the national cause in recent years.

He has been limited to just 19 caps and was appointed Wales captain in January just a handful of matches into his comeback after 11 months out with a shoulder injury.

Missing the World Cup may have been a blessing in disguise, given how badly Wales misfired, but under Gatland and Edwards they are back on track with their eyes on silverware.

Jones is convinced Wales can wrestle the triple crown trophy from Ireland’s grasp.

“I certainly believe and I know the guys believe as well,” he said.

“If we go out there and impose on Ireland the way we have done on the three other teams, prepare the way we have done and demand more of each other and ourselves, I think we’ll do very well.

“International rugby is never easy, so it’s going to be a hell of a battle out there. There’s no getting away from that.

“Ireland did well for long periods against Scotland. It’s all about who gets it right on the day. Certainly we’ll be prepared enough and mentally ready.

“We have got a huge belief, and I think we can do it.”

The feel-good factor in Welsh rugby has extended from the pitch to the board room, after the Welsh Rugby Union today announced a sponsorship deal with energy company SWALEC worth in excess of £1m.

The deal, which will cover the community game plus the under-20s and under-18s national teams, comes less than a month after the WRU unveiled a huge kit deal with Under Armour worth a reported £10m.

The national cup – to be branded the SWALEC Cup for the first time since 1999 - will be reorganised into a three-tier competition along the lines of a Sevens tournament with cup, bowl and plate winners.

SWALEC have also become an official partner of the WRU – in future they will provide the power to the Millennium Stadium – and a primary partner in the Under-20 World Cup, to be held in Wales later this year.

Roger Lewis, the WRU’s group chief executive, said: “The WRU is committed to deliver partnerships which help sustain and develop rugby at all levels and throughout the whole of Wales.”