Rugby: Wales icons Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric announce retirement from sport

Wales greats Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric have stunned the rugby world by announcing their international retirements.

The shocking decisions on Friday came less than four months before the Rugby World Cup in France.

Jones has the most test caps in the world, 170.

Tipuric has 94.

Both of them started in the forward pack for Wales' last match in March against France in the Six Nations, and were named this month in a preliminary World Cup squad.

If he'd made it to a fifth Rugby World Cup, Jones would have celebrated his 38th birthday in the first week.

Jones wrote on Instagram: "After ongoing dialogue with the coaching staff and the WRU, I have decided to step away from the international game. So, after 17 years I look back on special memories with Welsh greats and future Welsh greats.”

Less than two hours beforehand, Tipuric’s sports management released a statement saying, “Now seems the right time to step away from international rugby. I'm looking forward to spending more time at home and putting all my energies into playing for my home region the Ospreys."

Jones also plays for Ospreys.

Together, they helped Wales win four Six Nations titles and reach the World Cup semifinals in 2019 in Japan.