Alun Wyn Jones is back in training and on the brink of jetting to South Africa this week to join up with the British & Irish Lions.

The most-capped player in the history of Test rugby, Jones was originally named to lead the Lions to South Africa before the 35-year-old suffered what was thought to be a tour-ending shoulder injury in a pre-tour match against Japan in Edinburgh at the end of June.

Coach Warren Gatland surprised pundits days later when he suggested the Wales lock may somehow recover in time to take part in the tour, and a report in The Sun has since confirmed that Jones need only get through a double session on Tuesday to prove his fitness.

“There’s a possibility as he is back in training,” Gatland said when asked whether Jones was ready to rejoin the tour. “We’re waiting for the medical reports to see what happens with that.

“A few weeks ago we didn’t think it was an option and he has been back fully training with Wales this week and he’s doing a double session tomorrow. We’ll see what the outcome of that is.

“He has made a remarkable recovery in terms of the injury, the assessment was initially that it wasn’t as bad as they first thought.

“It’s a real positive and it would be a boost to the squad to have someone of his experience and calibre to come back in.”