Alun Wyn Jones and Dan Biggar were given a rapturous reception as they made their way onto the Principality Stadium pitch for their 150th and 100th Wales caps respectively.
In a sun-drenched stadium, captain Biggar was the first Wales player to make his way onto the field and did so solo as the milestone achievement was welcomed by applause, cheers and a standing ovation from tens of thousands of supporters.
Then followed Alun Wyn Jones, who makes his second start of this Six Nations after recovering from a shoulder injury, accompanied by his two daughters Mali and Efa for the huge occasion. His family couldn’t be there when he became the most-capped player in rugby history in October 2020, as his record-breaking 149th Test versus Scotland was played behind closed doors in Llanelli. Jones and his two children posed for memorable photos on the pitch before his girls returned to wife Anwen pitch-side for the remainder of the game.
You can follow Wales v Italy live here.
Jones, 36, had said ahead of the game: "I don’t think it’s quite up there with being the first man on the moon or reaching the summit of a mountain or anything like that. I appreciate the significance of it and to share it with Biggs [Dan Biggar] on his 100th is pretty special. It’s all a bit surreal, to be honest. To have the family present is very, very special."
Biggar, 32, had spoken pre-match about not being able to have his late mum Liz on hand to take in the proud moment. "It will be very emotional knowing that the one person I would really want there can’t be there," he said.
