Jenkins is new Welsh gem

By Mark Orders
19/11/22

One of the tests when trying to establish whether a shiny stone is a real diamond is to hold it in the light and see how it sparkles.

But Exeter University director of rugby Keith Fleming insists there is no need to bother with such matters when it comes to the case of Dafydd Jenkins.

The 6ft 7in, 18st 5lb youngster is set to make his senior Wales debut in the second row at the age of just 19 this weekend, with a place on the bench against Georgia. It’s a remarkably rapid elevation for a player who plays in a position where it can take time to mature.

Robert Norster, the great Wales lock from the 1980s, didn’t feature for his country until he was 24, for instance, the same age as fellow boilerhouse men Allan Martin, Delme Thomas, Rees Stephens and Roy John, each of whom went on to make huge names for themselves.

Jenkins, of course, operates in a different era, where players can be developed quicker, but even by modern standards he is on a fast track.

Fleming is in no doubt. “It doesn’t surprise me one bit that Dafydd is in the Wales set-up,” said one of college rugby’s most respected coaches and nurtures of talent.

“He has special qualities, that boy. You name me somebody that young in his position who’s come forward so quickly in the last decade. You’ll struggle to find one.

“I don’t want to blow smoke up his backside. I just want him to get out there and do what he does, because he does it very well. He puts everything on the line for you and doesn’t do anything by halves. He’s a hundred percent with everything does and he has such a good rugby brain.

“What I like about him, too, is that he’s a leader who has an edge. You need an edge in his position. He is going to go a very long way.”

He's already travelled a fair distance, only last weekend becoming the youngest captain in English Premiership history when he led Exeter Chiefs to a win over London Irish.

And last season, he helped Exeter University defeat their Durham counterparts in the BUCS Super Rugby final, the lock scoring a vital late try as the Devon college edged a high-quality encounter 14-13.

The triumph again highlighted the work of Fleming. Over the years, one of rugby’s foremost star-makers has helped bring through England internationals Henry Slade, Sam Skinner, Ben Moon and Jack Maunder. In all, guided by him, 61 Exeter University players have gone on to play professional rugby since the inception of the BUCS competition, some of them graduating to the Test stage.

Asked would Jenkins be among the best players he’d coached, he replied, unhesitatingly: “The best — he is an exceptional talent.”

There are several other Welsh players who featured for Exeter Uni in their silverware-winning campaign of 2021-22, among them Christ Tshiunza, Dan John and Wales U20 hooker Oli Burrows. Injuries and Wales call-ups restricted Tshiunza’s appearances for the college, while John, like Tshiunza and Jenkins, has been figuring for Exeter Chiefs this term.

Hooker Burrows scored two tries against Swansea University on Wednesday evening.

“They are all good boys,” said Fleming. “You could see Chris Tshiunza was a prospect as soon as you saw him. “He’s a proper athlete. What his best position? He runs very well at six, and he has a bit of dog in him. I wouldn’t worry about playing him either at second row or at six.

“Oli Burrows is coming along nicely and just needs to be a bit more consistent. Every game has to be like the one he played against Swansea, when he was very, very good. Next week, he needs to be playing exactly the same."

Of utility back John, son of former Wales scrum-half Paul John and grandson of ex-Wales coach Dennis john, Fleming has seen little of late.

“Dan is regularly playing for the Chiefs, so he’s a bit off limits for me,” said Fleming. “The challenge for him is to adapt to senior-type rugby, as there are things at, say, Gallagher Premiership level that you can’t really get away with. He just needs a bit of focus — he’s a young kid, don’t forget. But he’s putting together some very good performances, so he’s coming through.”

Ex-schoolboy athlete John can play at wing, full-back and centre, with Fleming believing he could eventually follow his dad onto the Test stage. “He’s more than capable of doing that,” he said. “It’s just about building the right psyche. He has to really graft and learn, which he is doing. He’s putting in some big performances.”

Fleming will keep shining up the Welsh gems. All have bright futures.