Tuesday 17 January 2017 16:08, UK
Alun Wyn Jones has been appointed Wales captain for the upcoming Six Nations, the Welsh Rugby Union has announced.
The Ospreys lock replaces Sam Warburton, who had been captain since 2011 and skippered Wales on a record 49 occasions.
Warburton remains in the 36-man squad named by interim head coach Rob Howley, who has called up seven uncapped players, including Wasps flanker Thomas Young, Leicester back Owen Williams.
The other uncapped players are Ospreys flanker Olly Cracknell, Newport Gwent Dragons wing Ashton Hewitt, Scarlets wing Steff Evans, Ospreys lock Rory Thornton and Scarlets scrum-half Aled Davies.
Reflecting on the captaincy, Howley said: "It's an honour to select Alun Wyn as captain. His vast experience, as a player and a leader, will help drive this squad forward and I believe he will flourish in the role.
"Sam has led Wales more times than any other captain, and had great success in the role. However, we want him to concentrate on his game and to be the best player he can be.
"We had conversations during and since the autumn with Sam. No player is guaranteed their place in an international team and we want Sam to be playing his very best rugby and he agrees this is the best way forward."
Cardiff Blues flanker Warburton led his country at the last two World Cups and also skippered the British and Irish Lions on their successful tour of Australia in 2013.
But Warburton is understood to be more concentrated on producing top form and securing a starting place in Wales' highly-competitive back-row area.
Justin Tipuric starred in the openside flanker role during Wales' autumn internationals in November, while Gloucester's Ross Moriarty has also emerged as a major back-row force since being handed an opportunity at Test level.
Warburton first skippered Wales in June 2011 at the age of just 22, and he led them into the World Cup in New Zealand that year.
Wales reached the last four of that tournament - their best World Cup performance for 24 years - although Warburton was sent off early on in the semi-final defeat against France in Auckland.
The 28-year-old led Wales to a Six Nations Grand Slam in 2012, and again when they retained the title a year later.
Additionally, Warburton was at the helm for Wales' 2015 World Cup campaign, which produced a notable victory over England at Twickenham before a quarter-final exit against South Africa.
Jones, meanwhile, has led Wales five times in the past and captained the Lions in the series-clinching third Test win against Australia after Warburton missed out because of injury.
Wales get their Six Nations campaign underway against Italy in Rome on February 5.
Wales squad:
Backs: L Halfpenny (Toulon), L Williams (Scarlets), G North (Northampton), S Evans (Scarlets), A Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), A Hewitt (Newport Gwent Dragons), S Williams (Scarlets), J Davies (Scarlets), J Roberts (Harlequins), O Williams (Leicester), S Davies (Ospreys), D Biggar (Ospreys), G Davies (Scarlets), R Webb (Ospreys), A Davies (Scarlets).
Forwards: S Andrews (Cardiff Blues), N Smith (Ospreys), R Evans (Scarlets), R Jones (Ospreys), T Francis (Exeter), S Lee (Scarlets), K Dacey (Cardiff Blues), K Owens (Scarlets), S Baldwin (Ospreys), J Ball (Scarlets), A W Jones (Ospreys, capt), R Thornton (Ospreys), L Charteris (Bath), C HIll (Newport Gwent Dragons), J King (Ospreys), J Tipuric (Ospreys), O Cracknell (Ospreys), R Moriarty (Gloucester), T Faletau (Bath), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues), T Young (Wasps).
