Former Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones has revealed that he was diagnosed with a heart condition towards the end of his career and has called for regular screening for active players.
The 38-year-old called time on his club and international career in 2023 following a glittering 18-year spell on the field, during which he made more international appearances than any other male rugby union player.
Jones earned 170 international caps in total - 158 for Wales and a further 12 for the British & Irish Lions between 2006 and 2023 - winning five Six Nations Championships for his country.
The former lock also registered nine tries for Wales before calling it quits in May, although he enjoyed a swansong against his homeland for the Barbarians in November, serving as captain in a 26-49 defeat.
Away from the international scene, Jones spent the majority of his domestic career with Ospreys before hanging up his boots following a brief stint at Toulon this year, and speaking to The Telegraph, the 38-year-old revealed that he was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation during his medical with the French side this summer.
Atrial fibrillation is a condition which leads to an abnormally fast and irregular heart rate, which can sometimes go unnoticed, and Jones admitted that it was a "shock" to learn of his diagnosis.
"I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. It was discovered when I underwent a full medical check, which included an ECG test, when I joined Toulon in July on a short-term contract as cover during the World Cup," Jones said. "The cardiac doctor picked it up straight away. My heartbeat was like a galloping horse with six legs. It was all over the shop.
"The things that bring it on for someone my age is likely to be cardiovascular exercise and stress, it occurs in sports like rowing and endurance sports, but it was a shock because throughout my career I have always prided myself on my fitness. I have always been so committed to doing extras after matches, constantly working on my fitness and recovery from injuries."
After speaking with a specialist in London, Jones elected to continue his playing career with Toulon as cover during the Rugby World Cup, but he was advised to undergo an operation in order to lessen the risk of long-term problems.
"We acted on medical advice from a rugby point of view. There was a risk, but I was prepared to play for Toulon. Anwen [Jones] and I had a conversation as husband and wife and I said: 'I have come this far, if I drop, at least I will be doing something I love'," Jones added.
"It might seem a selfish decision given that I have three young daughters, but I needed to take the opportunity. It was only going to be for four months, and it gave me an opportunity to experience and get perspective on my career and life."
A few weeks on from his operation, Jones is of the view that players should be screened more regularly and expressed his gratitude to Toulon, as his condition may not have been unearthed without their contract offer.
"There is a lot of talk about welfare in rugby at the minute, but does that cover everything? Is it just things that we can afford? Surely the sport has come to the point where players should be screened more often, especially at a time when the demands in the game are growing," Jones finished.
"I was very lucky how it worked out and will forever be grateful to Toulon for signing me. Had they not offered me a contract, I may never have known about the heart condition."
Jones's diagnosis comes after Luton Town captain Tom Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest in last weekend's Premier League clash with Bournemouth, seven months after also collapsing at Wembley in the Championship playoff final.
Lockyer was revealed to have suffered from atrial fibrillation back in May and has since been fitted with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) after last weekend's incident, which was different to his previous heart problem. body check tags ::
