British & Irish Lions prop Adam Jones admits the time is right to call it a day in a Wales shirt after announcing his retirement from international rugby.
Jones has enjoyed an illustrious career with Wales, going on to accrue 95 caps and claim three Grand Slams in that time.
This led to the 33-year-old being called up by Warren Gatland for the 2013 British & Irish Lions’ tour to Australia, Jones starting all three Tests as Australia were beaten 2-1 – adding to the two Tests he featured in 2009 in South Africa.
However, Jones has been omitted from Wales’ squad since the summer after the emergence of Scarlets tight-head Samson Lee.
Jones’ last appearance for Wales saw him replaced after just 30 minutes in a 38-16 defeat to the Springboks, and the Cardiff Blues prop admits he would have liked a happier finale.
"It's obviously not the way I would want to finish, it's not how I planned it in my head, and I hope no-one thinks I am simply quitting," Jones told The Sunday Times.
"It started when I got dropped for the last game of the 2014 Six Nations [against Scotland].
"I was still pretty happy with the way everything was going, and I was thinking that I'd get back in. Then there was the '30-minute match' in South Africa.
"I was gutted to miss out on the autumn. I told myself then that I would train as hard as I can and get as fit as I can. If it didn't happen, then I'll call it a day.
"It was becoming too hard on the family, my parents and [wife] Nicole."
