Dafydd Jenkins: Wales can 'build a team' around new captain, says Exeter boss Rob Baxter

Dafydd Jenkins has won 12 caps for Wales, making his debut in November 2022

Exeter boss Rob Baxter says Wales head coach Warren Gatland can build a side around new captain Dafydd Jenkins.

The 21-year-old will be the second-youngest man to lead Wales, with Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake missing the Six Nations with injury.

Jenkins only made his Wales debut in November 2022, having only made his Premiership debut the February before.

"It just shows you what these young men are capable of if they train hard and work hard," Baxter told BBC Sport.

"The one thing he's got is he's got the attitude in training and around the place that you look and go 'we can build a team around this guy'.

"I think that's what I look at, I look at that way more than someone who can stand there, sound good, says nice things and does stuff.

"For me your captains, your leaders and the people you really want driving your team are the guys that you look at and go 'I can build a team around you'.

"He's got that quality and if someone said to me 'what's the quality that he's got more than anything else', it'd be that, you'd feel very comfortable building a team around him."

Feyi-Waboso England decision about more than rugby

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso has scored six tries in 14 Exeter appearances in all competitions this season

While Jenkins will be donning a red shirt in the Six Nations, Exeter's former Wales Under-20 winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso has opted to play for England.

Despite being born in Cardiff the 21-year-old, who joined Exeter after Wasps went bust in 2022, has opted for Steve Borthwick's side.

Baxter says it is not just down to him wanting to stay in the Premiership - if he were to opt for Wales he would have to move back to the country to continue playing internationally, at least until he reached 25 caps.

The Exeter director of rugby says Feyi-Waboso's education - he is studying medicine at Exeter University - is also a factor.

"There's never been any pressure from us that your contract's being cancelled if you're not an EQP, (English qualified player) or any situation like that," Baxter told BBC Sport.

"The only thing they get told is you come to Exeter Chiefs and the ideal is we hope you live your dreams.

"For some of those young Welsh guys one of those dreams is playing for Wales, and that's what we help them do.

"For Manny it's slightly different because people might be underestimating that one of his dreams is playing international rugby, and winning trophies and playing Premiership rugby, but another big part of his dream is eventually qualifying to become a doctor.

"It's not just always about rugby and he's got himself relatively settled at Exeter University, I think he feels comfortable with how things are working with the course and with us, and that's a big factor for him as well.

"Once he goes to play for Wales that's it, there's no get-out for him, if he wants to stay in professional sport and keep playing internationally he has to go back to Wales, there's no leeway there for him."