Dafydd Jenkins (rugby union)
{{Short description|Welsh rugby union player}}
{{otherpeople|Dafydd Jenkins}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Dafydd Jenkins
| image = Dafydd Jenkins 2023.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Jenkins representing Wales during the Six Nations Championship
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2002|12|05|df=y}}
| birth_place = Bridgend, Wales
| height = {{convert|2.01|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|120|kg|lb stlb|0|abbr=on}}
| school = Porthcawl Comprehensive School
Hartpury College
| university = University of Exeter
| relatives = Hywel Jenkins (father)
| position = Lock
| currentclub = Exeter Chiefs
| years1 = 2021–
| clubs1 = Exeter Chiefs
| apps1 = 61
| points1 = 20
| repyears1 = 2021–2022
| repteam1 = Wales U20
| repcaps1 = 8
| reppoints1 = 0
| repyears2 = 2022–
| repteam2 = Wales
| repcaps2 = 19
| reppoints2 = 0
}}
Dafydd Jenkins (born 5 December 2002) is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a lock for Premiership Rugby club Exeter Chiefs and has captained the Wales national team.
Club career
Born in Bridgend, Jenkins began playing rugby for Porthcawl RFC juniors, where he progressed through the age groups.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-08-30 |title=Hotshot: Exeter Chiefs lock Dafydd Jenkins |url=https://www.rugbyworld.com/in-the-mag/hotshots/hotshot-exeter-chiefs-lock-dafydd-jenkins-145313 |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=Rugby World |language=en-US}} Jenkins attended Porthcawl Comprehensive School before transferring to Hartpury College, where he also played rugby. Prior to leaving Wales, Jenkins was part of the Ospreys academy.{{Cite web |last=Orders |first=Mark |date=2021-06-30 |title=Talented Wales teen signed by Exeter and just played first 80-minute game |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/talented-wales-teen-whos-signed-20940433 |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=WalesOnline |language=en}} While playing for Hartpury, Jenkins was contacted by Exeter head coach Rob Baxter, and he linked up with their team in 2021.
Jenkins studies sports sciences at the University of Exeter. He has played for their rugby team in the BUCS Super Rugby tournament, and was named man of the match when Exeter won the tournament, defeating Durham 14–13, scoring a try in the final.{{Cite web |date=2023-02-02 |title=Dafydd Jenkins: Ten things you should know about the Wales second row |url=https://www.rugbyworld.com/players/who-is-dafydd-jenkins-ten-things-you-should-know-about-the-wales-second-row-149853 |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=Rugby World |language=en-US}}
On 13 November 2021, Jenkins made his Exeter Chiefs debut in the Premiership Rugby Cup defeat to Bristol.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/rugby/match-reports/exeter-chiefs-v-bristol-bears-6196498|title=Exeter Chiefs v Bristol Bears LIVE updates from Sandy Park|first=John|last=Evely|date=November 13, 2021|website=BristolLive}} On 15 January 2022, Jenkins appeared as a replacement in the Champions Cup victory over Glasgow.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/59987756|title=Exeter run rampant in eight-try victory|via=www.bbc.co.uk}}
Jenkins first Premiership start came in the Round 15 defeat to Wasps on 5 February 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/60200436|title=Odogwu double helps Wasps pinch win at Exeter|via=www.bbc.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/news/chiefs-26-wasps-27|title=Chiefs 26 Wasps 27|website=www.exeterchiefs.co.uk}}
On 12 November 2022, Jenkins set the Premiership record as youngest player named captain, at 19 years and 342 days old, in a victory over London Irish.{{Cite web |last=Evely |first=John |date=2022-11-15 |title=Exeter Chiefs teenage lock Dafydd Jenkins set for Wales debut |url=https://www.devonlive.com/sport/rugby/rugby-news/were-excited-see-him-go-7822605 |access-date=2022-11-16 |website=DevonLive |language=en}}
International career
Jenkins was called up to the Wales under-20 squad for the first time ahead of the 2021 Six Nations Under 20s Championship, making his debut in the 25–8 victory over Italy.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/preview/preview-wales-under-20s-v-italy-under-20s/|title=Preview: Wales Under-20s v Italy Under-20s|website=Six Nations Rugby}} On 28 January 2022, Jenkins was again called into the Wales under-20 squad for the upcoming 2022 Six Nations Under 20s Championship.{{Cite web|url=https://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/news/dafydd-jenkins-u20s|title=Jenkins returns to Wales U20s squad|website=www.exeterchiefs.co.uk}}
On 14 November 2022, Jenkins was called up for Wales as injury cover in the 2022 Autumn Internationals.{{cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/wales-call-up-two-uncapped-25515022|title=Wales call up two uncapped players as Will Rowlands and Dan Lydiate ruled out of autumn|date=14 November 2022|access-date=15 November 2022|work=Wales Online}}
Jenkins made his international debut on 19 November 2022, coming off the bench against Georgia.{{Cite news |title=Georgia shock Wales with victory in Cardiff |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/63687627 |access-date=2022-11-20}}
On 17 January 2023, Jenkins was named in the Wales squad for the 2023 Six Nations Championship.{{Cite web |date=2023-01-17 |title=Owens captains new 37-man Wales squad - Welsh Rugby Union |url=https://www.wru.wales/2023/01/owens-captains-new-37-man-wales-squad/ |access-date=2023-02-09 |website=Welsh Rugby Union {{!}} Wales & Regions |language=en-GB}} He made his Six Nations debut on 4 February 2023, coming off the bench against Ireland.{{Cite web |last=Evely |first=John |date=2023-01-31 |title=Exeter Chiefs' youngster Dafydd Jenkins earns place in Wales' Six Nations squad |url=https://www.devonlive.com/sport/rugby/rugby-news/dafydd-jenkins-meteoric-rise-continues-8094425 |access-date=2023-02-09 |website=DevonLive |language=en}} The following week, Jenkins made his first start for Wales, against Scotland.{{Cite web |title=Wales Six Nations: Dafydd Jenkins, Christ Tshiunza, Tommy Reffell in; Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau dropped |url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12321/12806614/wales-vs-scotland-six-nations-dafydd-jenkins-christ-tshiunza-tommy-reffell-in-for-wales-alun-wyn-jones-justin-tipuric-taulupe-faletau-dropped |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=Sky Sports |language=en}}
On 16th January, 2024, in the absence of Jac Morgan through injury, Jenkins was named captain of the Wales squad for the 2024 Six Nations Championship.{{cite web |title=Six Nations 2024: Dafydd Jenkins to lead Wales as Louis Rees-Zammit heads to NFL |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/67989159 |website=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |access-date=17 January 2024}} In his debut as captain, Wales lost 26-27 in their opening game of the tournament. Despite losing, their performance was praised having come back from being 27-0 down.{{cite web |last1=Michael |first1=Aylwin |title=Scotland hold off storming Wales fightback for thrilling Cardiff victory |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/feb/03/wales-scotland-six-nations-rugby-union-match-report |website=The Guardian |publisher=The Guardian |access-date=4 February 2024}}
Personal life
Jenkins is the son of Hywel Jenkins, who played as a back row for Swansea, Neath and London Welsh. Hywel represented Wales A and Wales in an uncapped match against the United States, but did not earn a full senior cap.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{sports links}}
- [https://www.wru.wales/player/dafydd-jenkins/ Dafydd Jenkins] at Welsh Rugby Union
- [https://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/players/dafydd-jenkins Exeter profile]
{{Exeter Chiefs squad}}
{{Wales 2023 Rugby World Cup squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jenkins, Dafydd}}
Category:Exeter Chiefs players
Category:People educated at Porthcawl Comprehensive School
Category:Alumni of Hartpury College
Category:Alumni of the University of Exeter
Category:Welsh rugby union players
Category:Rugby union players from Bridgend
Category:Wales international rugby union players