Jones hands over to Jones at Ospreys

Rumours that Ryan Jones was set to hand over the Ospreys captaincy have been proved true as Alun-Wyn Jones was on Monday named his successor.

The 24-year-old British & Irish Lions and Wales second-row forward takes over the captaincy from his team-mate, who had held the job since 2007.

Since making his Ospreys debut as a second-half replacement in the first ever competitive game at the Liberty Stadium, against Leinster in 2005, Jones has gone on to establish himself as a mainstay of both the Ospreys and Wales teams.

He reached a century of regional appearances at the end of last season in the Magners League play-off semi-final against Glasgow, taking his tally to 101 in the Final in Dublin two weeks later. In total he has seven tries to his credit for the region.

"I've captained my country once and I had a 20 minute stint with the Lions, and it's fair to say that I didn't really expect those honours so early in my career, and that's the case here as well if I'm totally honest," he said, speaking to the region's website.

"I always watched Swansea growing up, I always aspired to play for the club and then, when rugby went regional, to play for the Ospreys. To be appointed captain is one of the memorable moments in your career, it's a fantastic honour. It's the start of a new chapter in my rugby career I suppose, and in my personal development.

"It's probably my biggest challenge to date, looking forward there's a lot in my career that I want to achieve. Being captain of the regional side, and representing not just Swansea like I aspired to but also, the other famous clubs that make up the region, it's a big responsibility. I want to play a small part in what we know we can achieve at the Ospreys, and that ambition has always been there."

Meanwhile, flanker or number eight Jones added that the Ospreys could not ask for a more capable leader as they go into the 2010/11 season.

"I've thoroughly enjoyed my time as captain of the Ospreys, it's meant a huge amount to me and my family over the last three years," he said.

"It's not a position that anyone relinquishes lightly, but we've had lengthy discussions about it over the summer and it's the best move for the Ospreys and for Wales moving forward.

"I've always said that captaincy is a seat that you are keeping warm for someone else. I've done it to the best of my ability at all times, we've had highs and lows, and I've thoroughly enjoyed it. I think that Alun-Wyn is a fantastic person and will make a great captain."