Jones tipped for Wales captaincy

Llanelli Scarlets fly-half Stephen Jones is widely expected to be named as the new Wales captain on Wednesday.

Jones is reported to have been chosen ahead of Gareth Thomas to lead Wales through this season and into the World Cup.

Head coach Gareth Jenkins will confirm his decision when the 30-man squad for the autumn Tests is announced on Wednesday afternoon.

Jenkins had plenty of leadership experience to choose from, with Thomas, Michael Owen and Duncan Jones all having captained Wales in the last year. But Jenkins appears to have decided Stephen Jones is the man to lead Wales into the World Cup.

The men know each other well. Jones, 28, came through the Llanelli ranks when Jenkins was in charge at Stradey Park.

He spent the last two years playing for Clermont Auvergne in the French league before returning to the Scarlets this summer.

Jones has won 56 Wales caps since making a debut to forget in the 96-13 defeat to South Africa in 1998.

Thomas is back playing for Toulouse again after he suffered a damaged artery during last season's RBS 6 Nations campaign.

Owen, who took over as captain last year and in the Grand Slam season of 2005, has only just returned from a shoulder operation and is not guaranteed to make the squad.

All eyes will be on Jenkins' midfield selections, where he is expected to include the uncapped Scarlets inside centre Gavin Evans. Brent Cockbain is likely to be included in the squad, but he has been cited for stamping in a Heineken Cup game and could be banned for the majority of the autumn campaign if found guilty.