Alun Wyn Jones has gone from chubby teenager to one of the greats of Welsh rugby, according to his Ospreys coach Steve Tandy.
Jones will make his 200th appearance for the Ospreys on Friday night, a landmark the region hope to celebrate by making it four victories from four Guinness Pro 12 matches when they face Leinster in Dublin.
The Wales second row will join Duncan Jones and Andrew Bishop as one of only three Ospreys players to reach a double century of matches.
Jones – who has also won 102 caps for Wales, plus six for the Lions – made his debut for the Ospreys in 2005 when he was 20.
Tandy says: “I remember him coming in as a chubby teenager along with Ian Evans and you could see then that he wasn’t someone unduly troubled by reputation.
“He wanted to come in and do his work without worrying about what anybody thought. He knew his own mind and that has stood him in good stead ever since.
“To this day he’s not worried about saying what he has to say, knowing that it is for the right reason. He puts the Ospreys first every time. He could have gone to any club in Europe but he has served his home region with real pride and we are proud to have him as one of ours.
“The 300 plus first class games he’s got to his name says everything you need to know about Al. You don’t get that by chance, by luck. It’s about his approach to life, his approach to rugby.
“Like any player, he’s had his injuries along the way, but every single minute of the day he is doing the right thing, to look after himself.
“He’s not only relentless on the pitch, he’s just the same off it. It’s the off-field stuff that sets him up to achieve on it.
“He is an incredible role model for any player who comes into our environment. Not just youngsters but older players as well.
“He won’t expect anyone to do what he wouldn’t do himself and that’s an admirable characteristic that has helped make him not only one of the greatest Ospreys but one of the greatest Welsh players.”
Law graduate Jones signed a dual contract with the Ospreys and the Welsh Rugby Union last season, which means he is restricted to 16 regional matches this season.
Friday will mark his second game of the campaign, although the regional figure would be extended if the Ospreys made the knockout stages in Europe, something that have not managed for six years.
It means the 31-year-old could could finish the season on around the 220-appearance mark. Duncan Jones holds the record with 223.
The Lions forward said: “I’m grateful for the opportunity I’ve had here, and for the doors it’s opened for me in terms of an international career.
“I think, as a younger player, I was very fortunate to be in an environment where there were so many quality players. You see so many players having to move away from home to play with great players and to learn from experience, but when you look at the Ospreys and see some of the greats who have been part of our history.
“You can be quick to forget some of the quality that has been drawn here over the years, for whatever reason. Not just the Jerry Collins, Justin Marshall’s of the world, but as importantly the Welsh talent that has been made here, or brought here.
“I’m very fortunate that as one of the very first players from the first academy system, I was able to come into this environment and was a little bit in awe of some of these people. It was an opportunity to learn from the very best and hopefully I didn’t waste it.
“Now, here I am 11 years on and if I’m able to help players now like they helped me back then, then I think I can be happy.”