THE Welsh Rugby Union has appointed Ryan Jones, the former Wales captain and British and Irish Lion, as head of rugby participation.

Newport-born Jones, who won 75 caps, will join the WRU Executive Board with a remit to get more people across Wales engaged more often with rugby at all levels and in all its forms.

In doing so he will represent more than 300 clubs across Wales and provide them with a voice at rugby's top table.

WRU chief executive Martyn Phillips said: "Whilst Ryan's credentials as a player and captain of Wales are obvious, of more importance to me is his reputation as a role model for players, his desire to put something back into a game that has served him so well and to put his obvious energy into being the figurehead for the community game in Wales.

"He impressed us with his desire to be very visible in the role, to roll up his sleeves and to take accountability for growing participation across men's, women's and kids' rugby via existing and new forms of the game.

"We are a rugby organisation and along with Geraint John, we have two individuals who are steeped in the tradition of the game in Wales and importantly open to modernisation for a healthy future."

Jones is one of an elite band of players to have won three Grand Slams with Wales (2005, 2008 and 2012) and he also played an integral role in his country's retention of the RBS 6 Nations title in 2013.

Jones also captained the Ospreys from 2007 to 2010 and counts four Guinness Pro12 titles amongst his achievements

He said, "We are a passionate rugby nation and I am a product of that. My goal is to make the game that so many of us love and care about accessible to more people, more often with more fun.

"Rugby has helped shape me into the person I am today and I believe I have a duty to put something back. I'm excited to get started."

Jones will join newly appointed Geraint John, head of rugby performance, on the WRU executive board.