ALUN Wyn Jones has been named as Six Nations Player of the Championship after leading Wales to a Grand Slam.

The titanic lock won a public vote ahead of teammates Hadleigh Parkes, Josh Adams and Liam Williams plus England’s Jonny May and Tom Curry.

The Ospreys forward said: “For me as the captain, it’s a validation of what we’ve done as a squad throughout the campaign.

“To be up there as a nominee with three other Welsh players and two outstanding players from England would have been more than enough and I’m very grateful to the people who have taken the time to vote.

“To have the tip of the cap from other nations shows what a wholesome competition we’ve got and the respect that is shared, so I’m very appreciative.

“I’m part of a very strong-minded squad. That’s been shown in our performances and the way we’ve gone about the Championship.”

It was during the recent Grand Slam march that Jones broke the previous milestone of 61 for most Test wins in a Wales jersey by any player and he has amassed 134 caps for Wales and the British and Irish Lions, equalling Gethin Jenkins' record combined total for the same teams.

He is now only the fourth Wales player to win three Six Nations Grand Slams, following in the footsteps of Jenkins, Ryan Jones and Adam Jones.

Jones succeeds Ireland's Jacob Stockdale as winner of player of the year and becomes the fifth Welshman to be acclaimed since Gordon D'Arcy - also of Ireland - landed the inaugural award in 2004.

England finished runners-up hence the inclusion of May, who finished top try scorer with six, and the Six Nations' outstanding openside in Curry.