The 29-year-old No.8 injured his knee in his side’s 21-10 loss against the All Blacks in June and is hoping to return to action with his club side Ospreys in the Heineken Cup opener with Toulon next month.

And while Jones, who has 43 caps for Wales, has won two Grand Slams as well as Test recognition for the British and Irish Lions, he admits he will consider himself unfulfilled if he fails to represent Wales on the biggest stage of all.
“I had my heart set on the last one and I was on the verge of going,” said Jones. “I had that taken away from me and it was a difficult year for me.

“From a personal point of view, it is something I dearly want to do. I want to represent Wales in a World Cup, I want to enjoy it and the spectacle of it all.

“I want to be exposed to that and it will be something to tick off my rugby list and be on my rugby CV. If I don't go, I will finish and look back on my rugby career pretty dissatisfied.

“I am back running and need another week or so on my feet. I am training and will be available for selection soon and I would like to have figured quite heavily by the end of September.

“I have to do that to give myself a chance to play European Cup rugby. I don't want to rush back and have a relapse because we are on the verge of what is potential a 16-month season.”