In Wales we are famous for our lack of vowels, to the visitor or the untrained eye road, village, and town signs can have a strange and unfamiliar look.

Whilst vowels may be a rare commodity in the land of my fathers, and mothers, one thing we do love with a passion are initials.

There are a few chosen ones who through their greatness are permitted to dispense with their full monikers and be universally referred to by their initials.

Being a Williams can give you a huge advantage in this department, as JPR and the late great JJ would testify.

Now there is a new kid on the block his greatness has never been in doubt but the “Initial Identity” has gradually seeped into existence.

This time it’s not a Williams but a Jones. Now this inevitable event has also come about because there are many who tie themselves up in knots trying to work out where the fine line between his first and surname ends.

I am of course referring to Alun Wyn Jones. Some call him Alun, others call him Alun Wyn the very brave call him Al, but unlike Paul Simon it was more case of you can’t call me Al not unless you know me very well.

Then there was the dilemma for those on the other side of the border as to whether his surname Wyn Jones or Jones ? But all this is a mere sideshow, whatever you called him he is, was, and ever shall be one of the true Welsh greats, a greatness that extended globally.

He terrified me at pressers so what he did to opposition players I can only begin to imagine, he terrified you with the power of silence he was a man of action rather than words which ironically belied his eloquence and intelligence.

He was our lighthouse a shining beacon to cling to when the Welsh rugby seas were rough however bad things got on and off the field you felt AWJ had a metaphorical arm around your shoulder, you knew things would turn out okay.

Yesterday AWJ made his final appearance at Twickenham captaining the Barbarians against a World XV.

A match won by the Barbarians 48-42 which featured 14 tries

His stats and achievements have been listed elsewhere, but my words are from the heart as someone who was just a fan when he started his international career in 2006, and then a journalist sat in the press box at Stade de France when he made his final appearance against France in the 2016 Guinness Six Nations.

Welsh rugby goodbyes are never easy and my life has been full of them from Barry in 1972, Gareth and Gerald in 1978 to Ieuan, Shane and Sam in latter years, saying goodbye to AWJ in the Twickenham sunshine was equally emotional.

AWJ has appeared superhuman in his longevity and his rapid recovery from major injuries, two missed conversions in front of the posts at the end of the match showed us that maybe he is human after all, but I’m not convinced. Diolch Alun Wyn.