Ospreys head coach Toby Booth says Alun Wyn Jones has “ticked off a lot of boxes” in his recovery from a shoulder injury.
Jones is continuing his rehabilitation in the Wales camp this week. He has not played for four months.
He was hurt while captaining Wales in their Autumn Nations Series opener against New Zealand, and subsequently underwent two operations.
Lock Jones has not been added to the Wales squad, and no comeback appearance has yet been confirmed, but Booth reported that the 36-year-old continues making encouraging progress.
“He has ticked off a lot of boxes,” Booth said. “His scan results were very positive.
“He needs to do different aspects of training, and not necessarily team preparation.
Six players have been released back to their regions. They will rejoin the squad ahead of France.
Rhys Priestland has been released due to a calf injury and Alun Wyn Jones will attend camp this week to continue his rehabilitation.
FULL STORY ⇨ https://t.co/352E6BKt4j pic.twitter.com/nYdCiO5Si5
— Welsh Rugby Union ? (@WelshRugbyUnion) March 1, 2022
“They (Wales) are in a fallow week and we are preparing a team (for a United Rugby Championship game on Sunday), so it makes sense in terms of being able to pull him in and out of parts of sessions, instead of just exposing him.
“We are in constant dialogue with their medical and strength and conditioning teams. We need a joined-up approach on a lot of what we do, and this is a good example of that.
“He is there for this week, and we will see how he presents at the end of the week and where that takes us after that.
“He is not available for us, he’s not quite ready, but we are all contributing a part to getting him back on the pitch.”
“If he ticks off boxes, then he will want to play a part in the next available game.
“Whether that’s internationally or for us – common-sense would probably say it’s for us – but these things don’t work out with the way the season is structured, so you have to wait and see.
“The one thing I’ve learnt about Al is that the worst thing you can say to him is that he can’t do something, because he will go out of his way to prove you wrong.”
A big name is reporting in for @WelshRugbyUnion.#GuinnessSixNations
— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) March 1, 2022
Jones, apart from the New Zealand game, and his fellow British and Irish Lions such as George North, Leigh Halfpenny, Ken Owens, Justin Tipuric and Josh Navidi have been unavailable to Wales head coach Wayne Pivac this season because of injury.
Flanker Navidi, who has been sidelined by a shoulder problem, could return in Cardiff’s URC appointment with Ulster in Belfast on Friday.
Booth, meanwhile, says that North is “very close” after a lengthy recovery process from a knee injury.
“After being out for so long, it is important that we do the right thing for George and for the team,” Booth said.
“We have to make sure he has had enough volume, so as not to expose himself to further injury.
“He is very close. He has been out training with us in team sessions, so it’s just about backing up a complete week, maybe two complete weeks.
“In an ideal world, when you have been long-term injured, you really need at least a couple of full weeks to understand exactly where you are.”
