JONES TURNS DOWN WASPS

Welsh Grand Slam hero Jones, 24 emerged as one of the few success stories for the Lions despite joining the tour late as a replacement. Now English Champions Wasps see him as the perfect successor to Lawrence Dallaglio but have been told hands-off by the Celtic League winners.

“Ryan is an integral part of our plans here at the Ospreys. We are building a young squad to challenge the best in Europe and we’re keeping him,” said Ospreys chief Mike Cuddy.

Jones played in all but one of Wales’s clean sweep of the RBS Six Nations and featured in all three Lions Tests against the All Blacks after stepping in for injured Simon Taylor. It was his barnstorming form in New Zealand that convinced Lions assistant Ian McGeechan, now in charge at Wasps, to make the move for him.

But Jones, who will face Wasps for the Ospreys in their Battle of Britain pre-season friendly on August 26, insists he is not going anywhere. He said: “I am fully committed to the Ospreys. I have two years left on my contract and want to stay and repay the faith they showed in me last year. I wouldn’t have achieved anything without them.”