Cardiff Blues rule out bid for Toulon's Gethin Jenkins

Cardiff Blues have revealed they cannot afford to end Gethin Jenkins' exile with Toulon in France.

Reports have suggested the Wales and Lions prop could return to the Cardiff Blues at the end of this season.

Phil Davies, the Blues director of rugby, has revealed the Welsh regions new £3.5m salary cap rules out Jenkins' return to the Welsh capital.

"There is always speculation but it's not practical because our salary cap is where it is," said Davies.

"We have spoken about Gethin but he is contracted to Toulon.

"We may not have somebody of Gethin's experience, but we have young players like Sam Hobbs and Tom Davies, who are 19 and 23 and they are outstanding young players, and they are the future of the Blues.

"We wish Gethin well, he is a fantastic player and did a great job for us, but now we have young players who want emulate his career."

French side Toulon have already dismissed rumours loose-head prop Jenkins is set to return to Wales.

Reports have suggested Cardiff Blues want to re-sign Jenkins, who left the region at the end of last season.

England's Andrew Sheridan has been preferred to Jenkins as Toulon's first choice loose-head this season.

But a Toulon club spokesman told BBC Wales there are no plans to cut short Jenkins' contract, which runs until 2014.

Jenkins, a British Lion in 2005 and 2009, is currently on international duty with Wales for the autumn internationals.

After starting against Argentina, Jenkins came off the bench against Samoa and is among the replacements for Saturday's game against New Zealand.