Jason Jenkins

{{Infobox rugby union biography

|name = Jason Jenkins

|image = Jason Jenkins 2019a.jpg

|caption = Jenkins in a tackle

|fullname = Jason Howell Jenkins

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|12|2|df=y}}

|birth_place = Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

|height = {{height|m=2.03}}

|weight = {{convert|124|kg|st lbs|abbr=on}}

|position = Lock

|youthyears1 = 2014–2015

|youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Blue Bulls}}

|amatyears1 = 2015

|amatteam1 = {{Rut|UP Tuks}}

|amatapps1 = 1

|amatpoints1 = 0

|years1 = 2015–2016

|clubs1 = {{Rut|Blue Bulls}}

|apps1 = 8

|points1 = 10

|years2 = 2016–2020

|clubs2 = {{Rut|Bulls}}

|apps2 = 57

|points2 = 40

|years3 = 2017–2021

|clubs3 = Toyota Verblitz

|apps3 = 25

|points3 = 30

|years4 = 2018

|clubs4 = {{Rut|Blue Bulls XV}}

|apps4 = 1

|points4 = 5

|years5 = 2021–2022

|clubs5 = Munster

|apps5 = 10

|points5 = 0

|years6 = 2022–2024

|clubs6 = Leinster

|apps6 = 39

|points6 = 35

|years7 = 2024

|clubs7 = Sharks

|apps7 = 0

|points7 = 0

|clubupdate = 23 September 2024

|repyears1 = 2015

|repteam1 = South Africa Under-20

|repcaps1 = 5

|reppoints1 = 15

|repyears2 = 2016–2017

|repteam2 = South Africa 'A'

|repcaps2 = 3

|reppoints2 = 0

|repyears3 = 2018–

|repteam3 = {{nrut|South Africa}}

|repcaps3 = 1

|reppoints3 = 0

|repupdate = 3 June 2018

|spouse =

|children =

|relatives =

|school = St. Alban's College

|university = University of Pretoria

}}

Jason Howell Jenkins (born 2 December 1995) is a South African rugby union player for United Rugby Championship and Champions Cup side Sharks. His regular position is lock, though he can also play in the back-row.

Career

=2014=

After completing high school at St. Alban's College in Pretoria, Jenkins joined the {{Rut|Blue Bulls}} Academy. He established himself in the {{Rut|Blue Bulls U19}} squad that participated in the 2014 Under-21 Provincial Championship, appearing in all fourteen of their matches in the competition and starting thirteen of those. He scored tries in their matches against the {{Rut|Sharks U19}}s{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=126464 | homeid=21104 | awayid=21144 | leagueid=2064 | hometeam=Blue Bulls U19 | homescore=33 | awayscore=18 | awayteam=Sharks U19 | matchdate=19 July 2014 | date=14 April 2016}} and the {{Rut|Western Province U19}}s{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=127084 | homeid=21104 | awayid=21124 | leagueid=2064 | hometeam=Blue Bulls U19 | homescore=44 | awayscore=29 | awayteam=WP U19 | matchdate=30 August 2014 | date=14 April 2016}} to help the Blue Bulls finish top of the log to qualify for the semi-finals. He helped the Blue Bulls to a 43–20 victory in their semi-final match against the Sharks U19s{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=127284 | homeid=21104 | awayid=21144 | leagueid=2064 | hometeam=Blue Bulls U19 | homescore=43 | awayscore=20 | awayteam=Sharks U19 | matchdate=17 October 2014 | date=14 April 2016}} and he also started the final, where the Blue Bulls lost 26–33 to Western Province.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=127304 | homeid=21124 | awayid=21104 | leagueid=2064 | hometeam=Western Province U19 | homescore=33 | awayscore=26 | awayteam=Blue Bulls U19 | matchdate=25 October 2014 | date=14 April 2016}}

=2015=

In 2015, Jenkins was named in the {{Rut|UP Tuks}} squad for the 2015 Varsity Cup competition. He make one appearance, playing off the bench in a 63–8 victory over the {{Rut|CUT Ixias}}.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=137704 | homeid=23584 | awayid=23594 | leagueid=2194 | hometeam=FNB UP - TUKS | homescore=63 | awayscore=8 | awayteam=FNB CUT | matchdate=9 March 2015 | date=14 April 2016}}

Jenkins was named in a 37-man South Africa Under-20 training squad{{SA Rugby Article | id=2925424 | leagueid=2484 | title=SARU names large group for Junior Bok trials | date=25 March 2015 | accessdate=6 December 2016 | url-status=live | url=http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=2925424&leagueid=2484 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161206134230/http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=2925424&leagueid=2484 | archivedate=6 December 2016}} and appeared for them as a replacement in a 31–24 victory in a friendly match against a Varsity Cup Dream Team that was named at the conclusion of the 2015 Varsity Cup competition.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=142484 | homeid=25434 | awayid=25444 | leagueid=2384 | hometeam=Varsity Cup XV | homescore=24 | awayscore=31 | awayteam=South Africa U/20 | matchdate=21 April 2015 | date=14 April 2016}} He was then named in their squad to tour Argentina for a two-match series as preparation for the 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.{{cite web|url=http://www.sarugby.net/component/supersportcontent/22316?view=news |title=SARU names Junior Bok squad for Argentine tour |work=South African Rugby Union |date=29 April 2015 |accessdate=29 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130080313/http://www.sarugby.net/component/supersportcontent/22316?view=news |archivedate=30 January 2016 }} He started their 25–22 victory over Argentina in the first match,{{cite web|url=http://www.uar.com.ar/noticias/noticias.asp?idinfo=3942 |title=Los Pumitas cayeron ante Baby Boks por 25 a 22 |work=Unión Argentina de Rugby |date=12 May 2015 |accessdate=21 May 2015 |language=Spanish |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522172958/http://www.uar.com.ar/noticias/noticias.asp?idinfo=3942 |archivedate=22 May 2015 }} as well as 39–28 win in the second match four days later.{{cite web|url=http://www.uar.com.ar/noticias/noticias.asp?idinfo=3958 |title=Los Pumitas cayeron ante Baby Boks por 39 a 28 |work=Unión Argentina de Rugby |date=16 May 2015 |accessdate=21 May 2015 |language=Spanish |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522173733/http://www.uar.com.ar/noticias/noticias.asp?idinfo=3958 |archivedate=22 May 2015 }}

Upon the team's return, he was named in the final squad for the 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.{{cite web|url=http://www.sarugby.net/component/supersportcontent/22792?view=news |title=Liebenberg to lead Junior Boks at U20 World Championship in Italy |publisher=South African Rugby Union |date=20 May 2015 |accessdate=20 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130032506/http://www.sarugby.net/component/supersportcontent/22792?view=news |archivedate=30 January 2016 }} He played in all three of their matches in Pool B of the competition; he played off the bench in a 33–5 win against hosts Italy,{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=144364 | homeid=26544 | awayid=26534 | leagueid=2484 | hometeam=Italy U20 | homescore=5 | awayscore=33 | awayteam=South Africa U20 | matchdate=2 June 2015 | date=14 April 2016}} before starting both their 40–8 win against Samoa{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=144394 | homeid=26534 | awayid=26524 | leagueid=2484 | hometeam=South Africa U20 | homescore=40 | awayscore=8 | awayteam=Samoa U20 | matchdate=6 June 2015 | date=14 April 2016}} and their 46–13 win over Australia.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=144404 | homeid=26534 | awayid=26514 | leagueid=2484 | hometeam=South Africa U20 | homescore=46 | awayscore=13 | awayteam=Australia U20 | matchdate=10 June 2015 | date=14 April 2016}} Jenkins also scored a try in each of the two matches that he started to help South Africa finish top of Pool B to qualify for the semi-finals with the best record pool stage of all the teams in the competition. He started their semi-final match against England, but could not prevent them losing 20–28 to be eliminated from the competition by England for the second year in succession.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=146274 | homeid=26534 | awayid=26494 | leagueid=2484 | hometeam=South Africa U20 | homescore=20 | awayscore=28 | awayteam=England U20 | matchdate=15 June 2015 | date=22 July 2016}} He started their third-place play-off match against France, scoring his third try of the competition to help South Africa to a 31–18 win to win the bronze medal.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=146324 | homeid=26474 | awayid=26534 | leagueid=2484 | hometeam=France U20 | homescore=18 | awayscore=31 | awayteam=South Africa U20 | matchdate=20 June 2015 | date=22 July 2016}}

He then played for the {{Rut|Blue Bulls U21}}s in the 2015 Under-21 Provincial Championship Group A, but was also named in the senior squad for the 2015 Currie Cup Premier Division.{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=118784 | name=Jason Jenkins | date=29 May 2016}}

=South Africa 'A' and Springboks=

In 2016, Jenkins was included in a South Africa 'A' squad that played a two-match series against a touring England Saxons team.{{SA Rugby Article | id=3559864 | leagueid=3024 | title=‘Oupa’ Mohoje named captain of SA ‘A’ team | date=5 June 2016 | accessdate=6 June 2016 | url=http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=3559864&leagueid=3024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160606123509/http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=3559864&leagueid=3024 | url-status=dead | archivedate=6 June 2016}} He didn't play in their first match in Bloemfontein,{{SA Rugby Article | id=3563654 | leagueid=3024 | title=Youth and experience for SA ‘A’ opener against Saxons | date=8 June 2016 | accessdate=10 June 2016 | url=http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=3563654&leagueid=3024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610203333/http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=3563654&leagueid=3024 | url-status=dead | archivedate=10 June 2016}} but started the second match of the series, a 26–29 defeat in George.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=164784 | homeid=33504 | awayid=33494 | leagueid=3024 | hometeam=South Africa "A" | homescore=26 | awayscore=29 | awayteam=England Saxons | matchdate=17 June 2016 | date=19 June 2016}}

He made his Test debut for the senior Springboks on 2 June 2018 against Wales in Washington, D.C. at the age of 22 years.

=Toyota Verblitz=

He joined Japanese Top League side Toyota Verblitz for the 2017–18 season.{{cite news | url=https://www.supersport.com/rugby/sa-rugby/news/170504/Jenkins_signs_in_Japan | title=Bulls' Jenkins off to Japan | work=SuperSport | date=4 May 2017 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505114731/https://www.supersport.com/rugby/sa-rugby/news/170504/Jenkins_signs_in_Japan | accessdate=5 May 2017 | archivedate=5 May 2017 | url-status=live | df=dmy-all }}

=Munster=

Jenkins joined Irish United Rugby Championship and Champions Cup side Munster on a one-year contract for the 2021–22 season, joining his former Bulls teammate RG Snyman at the club.{{cite news|url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/2021/03/30/player-signing-contract-extensions-academy-promotions/|title=Player Signing, Contract Extensions & Academy Promotions|date=30 March 2021|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=30 March 2021}} He made his senior competitive debut for the province in their 2021–22 Champions Cup round 2 fixture at home to French side Castres on 18 December 2021, coming on as a replacement for Jean Kleyn in Munster's 19–13 victory.{{cite news|url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/report/report-munster-make-it-back-to-back-wins-in-europe/|title=Report {{!}} Munster Make It Back-To-Back Wins In Europe|date=18 December 2021|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=19 December 2021}} Jenkins endured a difficult start to his time with Munster, as shoulder, thigh and abdominal injuries restricted him to just one appearance for the province by the start of 2022.{{cite news|url=https://www.the42.ie/kleyn-jenkins-munster-5645378-Jan2022/|title=Munster's Jean Kleyn set for knee scan as Jason Jenkins sidelined again|date=4 January 2022|work=The42|access-date=4 January 2022}} Jenkins returned from the run of injured to make his United Rugby Championship debut for the province in their 51–22 home win against Italian side Benetton in round 14 on 25 March 2022, coming on as a 63rd minute replacement for Alex Kendellen.{{cite news|url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/report/report-big-bonus-point-win-for-munster-over-benetton/|title=Report {{!}} Big Bonus-Point Win For Munster Over Benetton|date=25 March 2022|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=27 March 2022}}

=Leinster=

Jenkins joined Leinster from the 2022–23 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.the42.ie/jason-jenkins-leinster-move-5692190-Feb2022/|title=Leinster confirm signing of South African international from Munster|date=24 February 2022|work=The42|access-date=24 February 2022}} He played 39 matches in the URC and the Champions Cup in his two seasons at the club.

=Sharks=

Jenkins returned to South Africa for the 2024 URC season, joining the Sharks.{{cite news|url=https://www.iol.co.za/sport/rugby/urc/sharks-building-a-mountain-of-springbok-beef-with-new-signing-jason-jenkins-d823590c-8712-4706-8eeb-51e83ed9586c|title=Sharks building a mountain of Springbok beef with new signing Jason Jenkins|date=22 February 2024|work=IOL|access-date=23 September 2024}}