Wife 'completes journey' of husband killed in crash as he took son to rugby

Carrie is determined to finally take her sons to watch Wales play rugby for the first time

A mum-of-two is taking her son to his first Wales rugby match, a year after her husband was killed in a crash as he drove him to what was meant to be his first game.

Rugby referee Rhys Jenkins died on 16 November 2024 as he drove Ioan from their home in in Meifod, Powys, to watch Wales play Australia in Cardiff.

Ioan, 10, was seriously injured but is now "doing well", said Carrie Jenkins, 42, who will take him and his seven-year-old brother Gruff to watch Wales play Japan on Saturday.

Carrie said she wanted to "complete the journey" and take her sons to their first game, adding that she was determined to "make it a really positive trip, a sort of celebration in his memory".

What started out as an idea to note the occasion with "a few friends and family" quickly grew and now 100 people are expected to travel to Cardiff on Saturday.

"Rhys would've been overwhelmed by the support," Carrie said.

She added: "The fact I can get the boys to the game and be there with all our family and friends feels really uplifting, rather than perhaps it being a completely sad and upsetting time.

"I wanted to role model for my kids that life goes on and we have a duty to Rhys to make the most of our life."

Rhys Jenkins (left) was "really patriotic" says Carrie - "he loved the ethos and culture of rugby and always wanted the boys to be involved"

For Carrie, being involved in, and associated with, rugby helps her feel more connected to Rhys.

Both Ioan and Gruff play rugby for their local club, Cobra, and Carrie has started coaching to help the minis and junior teams.

"Some people ask 'is it really difficult for you to go to the rugby club?' But actually feeling a part of that almost feels like living out his legacy and I want the kids to feel close to him.

"They've got a picture of him on the wall and one of his referee shirts framed."

Carrie said, despite "really hard" times, such as Christmas and Father's Day, "I haven't been lonely because I've had people there by my side".

Carrie doesn't want people to forget Rhys or "what he brought to the local area"

A year on from Rhys's death, Carrie now feels the hardest part is "navigating the future".

"We've survived and I know that the future will be no different but as we go past milestones it's that sense of feeling like you're doing it as a single parent that's the hard bit."

She now wants to make a rugby trip an annual event and "go and see whatever Wales game falls on this weekend and make it a positive tradition for us".

Mr Jenkins was killed on the A483 near Welshpool after his car was involved in a collision with a BMW X3 driven by Abubakr Ben Yusaf.

Abubakr and his brother Umar have both denied causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving, while Abubakr also denies causing death while driving uninsured.

They will go on trial on 1 June.