Legendary Wales prop Adam Jones has picked his dream rugby team from players he played against or alongside over the course of his illustrious career.

The 43-year-old, who is now scrum coach at Harlequins, is widely regarded as Wales' finest tighthead of the professional era and was a key figure as Warren Gatland's side won three Grand Slams. The former Neath, Ospreys, Cardiff and Quins man also toured twice with the British & Irish Lions and has shared the pitch with some of the greatest to ever play the game.

Jones therefore has an impressive field to choose from when it comes to picking his 'Ultimate XV' and unsurprisingly has selected a formidable line-up featuring six Wales legends as well as some cult heroes of the Welsh game.

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Tasked with selecting 15 of the best while appearing on ex-England star Danny Care's Hits Different podcast, the former prop resisted choosing himself but started off proceedings with a fearsome front row, which included a familiar face.

Two All Blacks take the prop spots, with "the best loosehead to play the game" Tony Woodcock and "brilliant" Carl Hayman packing down at loosehead and tighthead respectively. Between them, however, Jones said he'd go for his mate Richard Hibbard, with the Welshman taking the hooker spot.

"I loved him," he said. "He could have gone to rugby league years ago. We were very kindred spirits around our training methods and diet! But he'd hit people, he was a genuine tough boy."

There was perhaps little surprise who was first on Jones' list in the second row, with Alun Wyn Jones getting the nod alongside Ireland legend Paul O'Connell.

"It was pretty obvious I was going to go with Al," said Jones of his former Wales team-mate. "He came training with us as a 17-year-old in 2003. He became an icon, then he went to astronomical levels of how revered he was around the world."

In Jones' back row, alongside former Springboks star Juan Smith, are two Ospreys icons with New Zealanders Jerry Collins and Filo Tiatia - now interim coach at the Dragons - slotting in.

"I was unlucky to play against him, lucky enough to play with him for two years at the Ospreys," Jones said of Collins, who was tragically killed in a car crash in 2015. "It was eye-opening, you played French teams, big teams with the Ospreys. We signed [Collins], Tiatia and Marty Holah and suddenly those big teams weren't taking as many liberties.

"You've got this dude with the blonde flat-top just eyeing up the French players as they walk on the field. But weirdly, unbelievably professional! If there was a Sunday afternoon drinking session, Monday morning he'd be straight in and sweating it out in the sauna or he's doing something in the gym. He was brilliant to have around."

On Tiatia, Jones added: "He only had two caps for the All Blacks, but FIlo turned out not just to be a ball-carrier, but a father figure to us as a younger group of players. He was really experienced, he'd been around the block playing in Japan and New Zealand. Again, he's another hard, proper tough bloke."

The backs had an even greater Welsh feel to it, with Jones plumping for Mike Phillips at scrum-half, adding: "Just to add to the size of this team, 6ft 4in and probably more aggressive than half of those [forwards]!

"He was underrated skill-wise, he could kick a ball 60 metres, he didn't have to pass. He was a hell of a player and a massive competitor. The confidence, the arrogance, he backed it up. I loved playing with him."

After resisting picking Johnny Sexton or legendary All Black Dan Carter, Jones instead opted for the latter's Welsh namesake, selecting Dan Biggar at fly-half.

"He was 18 when he came into the Ospreys team, and he was our 10 in a team of 23 internationals," said Jones. "You had this spotty little kid bossing you around, and what I love about him is he hasn't changed. You see him on the field now and he's very theatrical, but he was like that back then, even as an 18-year-old.

"Did I play with him in his pomp? Probably not, he came through a lot later. But just remembering what he was like as a kid and seeing what he's gone and done now, I'll pick Biggar."

Jones reserved his highest praise, however, for his pick at wing, with Shane Williams making the cut. The former prop added: "What a player. Going back to that Ospreys team when we had that many players, to go to a guy that's 5ft 8in and probably 12 stone and say 'you have the ball, go and do something' and then him do it, it's a joke.

"2008, when he won the World Player of the Year, some of the stuff he was doing was like, 'oh man, this is almost not real'. Amazing player, hard work on a night out!"

With Ireland duo Brian O'Driscoll and Tommy Bowe selected at outside centre and wing respectively, and Springboks "freak" Jaque Fourie picked ahead of Jonathan Davies and Jamie Roberts on the inside, there was just one position left to pick, with a Welshman selected again.

"I'm going to have go to for Leigh Halfpenny," said Jones. "Just for what he's done and that he's at [Harlequins] now. When I played with him, he was ridiculous. It was unbelievable watching him kick, I'd be stood behind him and every time it was straight as a die.

"I don't know what other Welsh players the Quins boys have had at the club, but they must think they're all really arrogant, as they've all said 'Oh, Leigh Halfpenny's really nice!". I loved playing with him and seeing what he's done with 100 caps and the Lions."

Adam Jones' Ultimate XV: 15. Leigh Halfpenny, 14. Tommy Bowe, 13. Brian O'Driscoll, 12. Jaque Fourie, 11. Shane Williams, 10. Dan Biggar, 9. Mike Phillips; 8. Filo Tiatia, 7. Juan Smith, 6. Jerry Collins, 5. Paul O'Connell, 4. Alun Wyn Jones, 3. Carl Hayman, 2. Richard Hibbard, 1. Tony Woodcock