Gethin Jenkins (born 17 November 1980) is a Welsh former

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In it ...

player. He won 129 international caps for Wales and five for the

British & Irish Lions The British & Irish Lions is a rugby union team selected from players eligible for the national teams of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The Lions are a test side and most often select players who have already played for their national ...

. Jenkins was the record cap holder for Wales until he was overtaken by

Alun Wyn Jones Alun Wyn Jones (born 19 September 1985) is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a Rugby union/lock, lock for the Ospreys (rugby union), Ospreys and the Wales national rugby union team, Wales national team. He is List of rugby u ...

on 29 September 2019. He is the sixth most-capped player in rugby union history and the most capped front row forward. He is one of a small group of Welsh players to have won three Grand Slams including

Gerald Davies Thomas Gerald Reames Davies CBE DL (born 7 February 1945 in Llansaint) is a Welsh former rugby union wing who played international rugby for Wales between 1966 and 1978. He is one of a small group of Welsh players to have won three Grand Sla ...

Gareth Edwards Sir Gareth Owen Edwards CBE (born 12 July 1947) is a Welsh former rugby union player who played scrum-half and has been described by the BBC as "arguably the greatest player ever to don a Welsh jersey". In 2003, in a poll of international ...

JPR Williams John Peter Rhys Williams (born 2 March 1949) is a former Welsh rugby union player who represented Wales in international rugby during their Golden Era in the 1970s. He became known universally as J. P. R. Williams (or sometimes just as JPR) aft ...

Ryan Jones Ryan Paul Jones (born 13 March 1981) is a Wales former international rugby union player who played at number eight, blindside flanker or second row. He was involved in three Grand Slam wins, in 2005, as captain in 2008, and 2012. He is one ...

, Adam Jones and

. On 31 October 2018 he announced his intention to retire after a final game for the Cardiff Blues against Zebre on Sunday 4 November 2018 following a recurring knee Injury. After his successful playing career, he had a number of coaching positions at Cardiff Blues and Cardiff RFC. Following some poor performances by Wales in 2020, he joined

Wayne Pivac Wayne Pivac (born 1962) is a New Zealand rugby union coach. In November 2019 he replaced Warren Gatland as the Wales national team coach. A former sworn officer in the New Zealand Police, he was a constable at the Takapuna police station on A ...

's backroom staff in the role of Wales Assistant Coach focusing on Defence.

Early career

Educated at Llwyncrwn primary school and Bryn Celynnog Comprehensive School in Beddau, Jenkins first played rugby union aged 13 at Beddau RFC based in

Pontypridd () ( colloquially: Ponty) is a town and a community in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. Geography comprises the electoral wards of , Hawthorn, Pontypridd Town, 'Rhondda', Rhydyfelin Central/Ilan ( Rhydfelen), Trallwng ( Trallwn) and Treforest (). ...

Club career

Jenkins played his Youth Rugby at

and captained his side to Welsh Cup Victory in 1998. He became a regular first team player and was a key figure in highly successful 2000-2003 Pontypridd Team winning the final Principality Cup of the pre-regional era and narrowly losing to Sale Sharks in the final of the Parker Pen Shield competition. The 2002 Pontypridd forwards that Jenkins played alongside were the basis of the pack that led Wales to Grand Slam success in 2005, with ex-Pontypridd players making up 6 of the 8 forwards. Following the introduction of Welsh Regional Rugby, Jenkins joined the Celtic Warriors before signing for Cardiff Blues following the demise of the Celtic Warriors. At the Cardiff Blues he won the Amlin Challenge Cup, and reached the Heineken Cup semi final. After an impressive World Cup 2011, his signature was hotly sought after with Bath, Perpignan and Toulon all chasing a deal for the prop. Jenkins joined French

Top 14 The Top 14 () is a professional rugby union club competition that is played in France. Created in 1892, the Top 14 is at the top of the national league system operated by the French National Rugby League, also known by its French initialism o ...

side

Toulon Toulon (, , ; oc, label= Provençal, Tolon , , ) is a city on the French Riviera and a large port on the Mediterranean coast, with a major naval base. Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, and the Provence province, Toulon is th ...

for the 2012-13 season. Jenkins became the ninth Welshman to win a Heineken Cup with Toulon when he played as a replacement in the final against

Clermont Auvergne Association Sportive Montferrandaise Clermont Auvergne () is a French rugby union club from Clermont-Ferrand in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes that currently competes in Top 14, the top level of the French league system. Clermont are two times French ...

. Jenkins is only the second Welsh player (along with Rob Howley) to win both European cups, after winning the Amlin Challenge Cup in 2010 with the Cardiff Blues and the Heineken Cup with Toulon in 2013.

International career

Wales

Jenkins made his first appearance for

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...

against Romania in 2002. In the

2005 Six Nations Championship The 2005 Six Nations Championship was the sixth Six Nations Championship played since the competition expanded in 2000 to include Italy. Including the Home Nations and Five Nations Championships, this was the 111th season of the tournament. Wales ...

he was rated one of the greatest influences in Wales'

Grand Slam Grand Slam most often refers to: * Grand Slam (tennis), one player or pair winning all four major annual tournaments, or the tournaments themselves Grand Slam or Grand slam may also refer to: Games and sports * Grand slam, winning category te ...

winning side, scoring a memorable try against

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

. In November 2007 Jenkins was asked to captain Wales against

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...

by Welsh temporary coach Nigel Davies. His reign as captain would last just one game as in December Wales hired

Warren Gatland Warren David Gatland (born 17 September 1963) is a New Zealand rugby union coach and former player who is currently in his second spell as the head coach of the Wales national team. As head coach of Wales from 2007 to 2019, he won four Six N ...

as coach who gave the captaincy to

. However Jenkins kept his place in the squad solidifying himself as number one choice for the #1 jersey. Jenkins captained Wales against Australia on 28 November 2009 following the withdrawal of regular captain

from the squad due to injury. Jenkins captained Wales in their last game of the 2013 six nations championship in Cardiff. Wales defeated England 30-3 to win the Championship. On 30 November 2013 versus Australia Jenkins became the most capped forward for Wales, surpassing

and

Cardiff Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital and largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Cardiff ( cy, Dinas a Sir Caerdydd, links=no), and the city is the eleventh-largest in the United Kingd ...

team-mate

Martyn Williams Martyn Elwyn Williams, (born 1 September 1975) is a former Wales and British & Irish Lions international rugby union player. A flanker, he was Wales' most-capped forward with 100 caps until surpassed by Gethin Jenkins on 30 November 2013. He ...

record of 100 caps. On 15 March 2014 versus Scotland he became the most capped player for Wales, overtaking the record of 104 caps held by Stephen Jones. Jenkins became the world's most capped prop forward ever on 29 August 2015 versus Ireland, overtaking the record of 119 caps held by

Jason Leonard Jason Leonard (born 14 August 1968) is an English former rugby union player. He won a then-record 114 caps for England men’s rugby team during a 14-year international career. A prop, Leonard played club rugby for Barking RFC, Saracens and ...

. Gethin Jenkins took part in both the 2016 Six Nations and the Wales tour to New Zealand. Jenkins also captained Wales during the 2016 Autumn internationals.

British & Irish Lions

Jenkins was selected for the

tour to

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

in 2005 and played in all three tests. On 21 April 2009, Jenkins was named as a member of the British & Irish Lions for the 2009 tour to South Africa. In June 2009 Jenkins, Adam Jones and

Matthew Rees Matthew may refer to: * Matthew (given name) * Matthew (surname) * ''Matthew'' (ship), the replica of the ship sailed by John Cabot in 1497 * ''Matthew'' (album), a 2000 album by rapper Kool Keith * Matthew (elm cultivar), a cultivar of the ...

were selected as the

front row for the second Test against South Africa. This was the first time an all-Welsh front row was selected for a Lions test match since Billy Williams,

Bryn Meredith Brinley "Bryn" Victor Meredith
Scrum.com (born 21 October 1930 in

and

Courtney Meredith Courtenay Meredith (born 23 September 1926) was a Welsh international rugby union prop who played club rugby for Neath. He won fourteen caps for Wales and also played for invitational club the Barbarians. Meredith was a powerful prop, and was ...

on the 1955 Lions tour. Jenkins was selected for the British & Irish Lions for the

2013 tour Thirteen or 13 may refer to: * 13 (number), the natural number following 12 and preceding 14 * One of the years 13 BC, AD 13, 1913, 2013 Music * 13AD (band), an Indian classic and hard rock band Albums * ''13'' (Black Sabbath album), 2013 ...

for the third time, but withdrew due to injury. He narrowly missed out on selection for the 2017 Tour to New Zealand following his knee injury issues.

International tries

Coaching career

Jenkins began his coaching career as defence coach for Cardiff RFC, while still playing for Cardiff Blues. In 2020, he assisted with Wales U20, as a defence coach, before joining up with the senior side ahead of the 2020 Autumn Nations Series, as a technical coach. Ahead of the 2021 Six Nations, his role was made permanent, becoming the full time defence coach.

Style

Jenkins usual position is loosehead prop but he has also played in the tighthead prop position. He was one of the "new-breed" of front-rows, known for his speed, fitness and turnover ability, however some criticism was made of his scrummaging at times during his career. Despite his stern on-field persona, he was a well-respected and well-liked player, commonly referred to as "Melon".

Rugby league

Jenkins has also played

rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 11 ...

, making regular appearances for

Cardiff Demons The Cardiff Demons RLFC name has been used multiple times over the years. Firstly for a now-defunct men's rugby league side, and subsequently for a women's rugby league side who began in 2021. The men's sids played out of St. Peters RFC in the ...

in the late 1990s leading them to the 1998 Division Two Academy Grand Final.

References

External links

*(archived by web.archive.org
Cardiff profile
*(archived by web.archive.org
Pontypridd profileWales profile
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Jenkins, Gethin 1980 births Living people British & Irish Lions rugby union players from Wales Cardiff Rugby players Cardiff Demons players People from Llantrisant Pontypridd RFC players RC Toulonnais players Rugby league players from Rhondda Cynon Taf Rugby union players from Rhondda Cynon Taf Rugby union props Wales international rugby union players Wales rugby union captains Welsh rugby league players Welsh rugby union players