Background
David Jenkins was born in Treherbert, Wales.Playing caterer
He was a member of the Great Britain side that toured Australia and New Zealand in 1946. This was known as the Indomitables tour.Playing career
Junior/Amateur Game
As a 10 year old in 1924 Dai Jenkins played hooker for Penyrenglyn School XV, Treherbert and in 1927/28 Dai was vice-captain and scrum half when his team won the Welsh schools Rugby Union Championship. In 1928 Dai played for Wales v England in the Schoolboy R.U. Internationals at Cardiff and Coventry and played Association Football as a centre forward with a local junior team for 2 years after leaving school.Domestic career
In 1935 Dai Jenkins signed for Acton and Willesden and played his first Rugby League game against Featherstone at Post Office Road. In May 1936 Dai left Action & Willesden and joined Streatham & Mitcham Rugby League Club playing for them until Dec 1936. He then transferred (with Con Murphy) to Leeds Rugby League Club. Dai and Con were transferred for a joint transfer fee of £600. His first match for Leeds was against Bradford Northern at Headingley on 2 January 1937.Challenge Cup, Championship & Yorkshire Cup appearances
In 1937, Dai played for Leeds against Wigan in the League Championship semi-final of 1937 and again for Leeds in the 1938 Rugby League Championship final against Hunslet, at Elland Road. Dai Jenkins played in four rugby leagueWartime (Domestic games)
Dai Jenkins played for Yorkshire and the Probables (players who would probably have toured Australia in 1940) in several matches in Yorkshire and Lancashire. * 1940 Feb, played for the Probables against the 1936 Tourists in a Red Cross Fund match at Salford * 1940 Mar, played for Yorkshire against a Lancashire side at Barrow. * 1940 May, played for the Probables against the 1936 Tourists in a Red Cross Fund match at Salford. * 1942 Mar, played for a Rugby Leagues XIII against Northern Command. * 1942, Mar, played for Yorkshire against Lancashire at Crown Flatts, Dewsbury * 1943, May, played in a 7-a-side competition at HeadingleyLater domestic career
Dai Jenkins captained Leeds RLFC sometime during the 1948-49 season. In 1949 Dai Jenkins shared aInternational career
In the 1937-1938 season Dai Jenkins was awarded a Welsh International cap when he played for Wales against England at Newcastle. He represented Wales against England at Llanelli in the European Rugby League championship on 5 November 1938 and again in a friendly match at Odsal on 23 December 1939. Also in 1938 Dai Jenkins played for Wales against France and is reputed to have swapped his shirt with one of the French players (no 7). A France International shirt is in the Heritage Quay collection. In 1938, Dai toured France, as a guest player, with the Hunslet Rugby League team.Wartime (International Games)
During WW2, Dai represented Wales in a variety of rugby league matches: * 1940 Nov, Oldham * 1941 Odsal * 1943 Feb, WiganIndomitable's Tour
In Apr 1946, Dai Jenkins was selected to join that year’s highly successful Rugby League tour of Australia and New Zealand. This was the first overseas tour since the end of the war. The touring squad became known as theQuotes relating to Dai Jenkins
"Jenkins would tackle anything from a charging elephant to a whippet tank." (a small, fast tank of WW1) Dai Jenkins said "his greatest football thrill was at Huddersfield in the 1947 Cup semi-final v Wakefield, when Leeds won through to Wembley"Personal life
Dai was the son of Richard Jenkins and wife Rachel (nee Howells) who married 1909 (Q3) in Pontypridd Registration district.GRO marriage index David’s siblings included sisters Margaret (b. 1910) Deilwen (b. 1920) and brothers Elwyn (b. 1925) and Venner (b. 1927). His father, Richard, played Rugby League for Hull and died before 1935. Dai Jenkins was born 23 February 1914 in Treherbert, South Wales.GRO birth index He married Edna Fox in the Leeds North Registration District, Q1 1939 and they lived part of their early married life at 7 Ashville Grove, Leeds 6. By 27 January 1940 they were living at 24 Beechwood Mount, Burley, Leeds. From c. 1940 – aft. 1947 Dai took over as licensee of the Town Hall Tavern, 17 Westgate, Leeds (near the Headrow)Heritage Quay Archives @ Huddersfield University. Letters, Ref number: RFL/AV/1/5/3/1/4 from Ken Jubb who was also a Leeds Rugby League player. Dai and Edna’s son David was born in 1942, Pontypridd registration district. Dai died, aged 65, 1979 Q4, in Leeds Registration district.References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jenkins, David 1914 births 1979 deaths Bramley R.L.F.C. coaches Bramley R.L.F.C. players Cardiff RFC players Footballers who switched code Great Britain national rugby league team players Keighley Cougars players Leeds Rhinos players Place of death missing Publicans Rugby league halfbacks Rugby league players from Treherbert Rugby union players from Treherbert Streatham and Mitcham R.L.F.C. players Wales national rugby league team players Welsh rugby league players Welsh rugby union players Yorkshire rugby league team players