Dafydd Jenkins: Exeter boss praises leadership of young captain

Dafydd Jenkins has won 12 caps for Wales and played 32 times for Exeter

Exeter boss Rob Baxter has praised the leadership qualities of Dafydd Jenkins after the Welsh lock took over the captaincy of the Premiership side.

The 20-year-old - who featured in all five of Wales' World Cup games - has started the Chiefs' last two fixtures.

He has established himself in the side over the past year after moving to Exeter in the summer of 2021 and made his Wales debut in November 2022.

"Dafydd's a great player, he's going to be even better," Baxter said.

"I've seen a lot of good qualities in him, hence that's why he's captaining the team."

The former Wales Under-20 player form Bridgend is one of a host of talented young Welsh players at Exeter alongside fellow forward Christ Tshiunza, centre Joe Hawkins and winger Emmanuel Feyi-Waboso.

"He's got stuff to learn," added Baxter on Jenkins.

"He's also calling line-outs so there's quite a lot of pressure on him.

"He loves playing rugby, he loves the competitive part of the game, he wears his heart on his sleeve, he doesn't suffer fools.

"I just watch him and go 'that's the kind of guy I'd love to have as the captain of a rugby side'.

"He expects people to get up and get on with things, he expects people to work hard, he expects people to train hard, and why not?

"He keeps it very simple for himself and I think sometimes that's the best way.

"It doesn't have to be some complex calculation, they're all there playing rugby, they love doing this, well let's get out and do it well, and Daf embodies that.

"Sometimes that's the strongest form of leadership and the best form of leadership."