Alun Wyn Jones holds the record for most international appearances in men’s test rugby.
The Welsh lock and former captain reached 158 test appearances for Wales and the British & Irish Lions combined. He played his final international for Wales in 2023, ending a career that began in 2006. Jones was renowned for his durability, leadership and work in the lineout.
His total includes matches for Wales and appearances for the British & Irish Lions, the touring side representing England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Records can look different when they count only appearances for a national team, so the wording “international appearances” matters.
Jones also captained Wales to Grand Slam success in the Six Nations and led the Lions on their 2017 tour of New Zealand. Richie McCaw and Brian O’Driscoll are among the other players often mentioned in appearance-record discussions, but neither surpassed Jones’s combined total.