Former Welsh rugby captain Alun Wyn Jones is embarking on a new Welsh journey, having admitted he is ‘not proud’ that he can’t speak the language
19:56, 09 Oct 2025Updated 20:14, 09 Oct 2025
Wales legend Alun Wyn Jones has taken on a new project(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd)
Former Welsh rugby captain Alun Wyn Jones is embarking on a new Welsh journey, having admitted he is “not proud” that he can’t speak the language. He will be taking part in the S4C series Iaith ar Daith which takes Welsh celebrities on a journey to learn Welsh.
The series will follow Alun as he heads on his language journey, which he will embark on with none other than Dave Coaches, Steffan Rhodri. The Gavin and Stacey actor will assist the rugby player in taking on the challenge of learning the language of his homeland.
In a clip shared by S4C promoting the programme, the 40-year-old shared how he was ashamed that he didn’t speak Welsh. Don’t miss a rugby story, sign up for our newsletter.
Alun said: “Travelling the world and not speaking your language. On reflection it’s something I’m not proud of.
“Now, having three daughters and a wife who all speak Welsh at home, I need to know what’s going on.
“It’s a big piece for me about knowing my roots, and belonging to my country.”
Alun’s wife Anwen and their daughters all speak Welsh.(Image: PA)
He went on to delve in to his family history with the language. The rugby player said: “My gran’s from the North, a Welsh teacher. Every opportunity was a Welsh lesson.”
Alun continued: “Being stubborn in my old age, I was probably worse as a child. It was like ‘leave me alone.’
“Now I’m here and I wish I’d learned the language.”
He described just how complex learning a language later in life is. Alun said: “I’m old now, and learning is so hard.
“One thing I live by that Nain always said, and I used in rugby and will use in my Welsh language journey, ‘it is not good if it is not your best’.
“Hopefully I can work on that.”
Content cannot be displayed without consent
Alun Wyn Jones will be joined on his language journey by two other famous Welsh faces. This includes actress Melanie Walters aka Gwen from Gavin and Stacey who is originally from Swansea, and It’s a Sin actor and West End star Callum Scott Howells.
The series will be launching on S4C on Sunday, October 12, and will see the celebs take a trip across Wales to learn Welsh, hence the name Iaith ar Daith, or in English language on a journey.
Past stars who have learnt Welsh on the series include rugby star Adam Jones, singer Aleighcia Scott, and Gavin and Stacey’s own Ruth Jones.
Content cannot be displayed without consent
Iaith ar Daith will available to watch on S4C from Sunday, October 12 at 8pm.