Six Nations 2024: New Wales captain Dafydd Jenkins was 'shaking' after Warren Gatland phone call
- Published
Dangerous to write off Wales, says captain Dafydd Jenkins
Guinness Six Nations 2024: Wales v Scotland |
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Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff Date: Saturday, 3 February Kick-off:16:45 GMT |
Coverage: Live on BBC One, S4C, BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru & live text on the BBC Sport website and app. Highlights on Scrum V, Sunday, BBC Two Wales and online, 4 February and later on demand |
Dafydd Jenkins says he was left "shaking" by the Warren Gatland phone call that asked him to be the new Wales captain for the Six Nations.
Wales were looking for a leader after injuries to World Cup co-captains Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake ruled them out of the tournament.
Gatland turned to the 21-year-old Exeter lock before the Six Nations opener against Scotland on 3 February.
"It's a dream come true, it's probably not sunk in yet," said Jenkins.
"Once we have the first game, and we're into the matches, it will start flowing a bit more. It is definitely a special day for me and my family."
Jenkins said he was initially sceptical about the Gatland phone call he received.
"I was very surprised," he said, "I was in Exeter, at the club, and had a call from a number I didn't have.
"Gats obviously said who it was. So you're just going along with it.
"I was not too sure it was actually him or one of the boys playing a prank. I spoke to him and I was pretty convinced it was him coming off the call.
"After I put the phone down a few of the boys around me were asking me who it was and I was a bit sceptical.
"We have a few other Welsh boys at Exeter like Joe Hawkins so I compared the number with him. One of the boys could have gone on my phone and changed the number."
Dafydd Jenkins has played 12 internationals and helped Wales reach the 2023 World Cup quarter-finals
Once authenticity had been established, the enormity of the situation became clear.
"I was definitely shocked," said Jenkins.
"But when I got the call I was a bit shaken and when he asked me, I had to say yes. It was a massive opportunity for me and one to make my family proud."
Jenkins is from rugby stock. His father Hywel played for Swansea, Neath and Llanelli and represented Wales in an uncapped international, while his grandfather played for Aberavon and was in the same Wales schools side as Sir Gareth Edwards.
Jenkins himself has risen from the ranks from Porthcawl RFC to the Wales captaincy via, Hartpury College, Exeter University and Exeter.
"There's been loads of different influences," said Jenkins.
"My mum was a massive part of growing up, taking me everywhere and feeding me!
"Then I went to Hartpury College and that was a massive impact on my career.
"You're training like a pro from the age of 16. And Exeter where they took me to the next level with the coaches there.
"So I wouldn't say there's one that stands out, it's just been a lot of clever people along the way helping me."
Jenkins, who has played 12 internationals, will become the second-youngest Wales captain, after Edwards who was 20 when he led Wales against Scotland in 1968.
That occasion was 56 years before Jenkins is due to lead his country out at the Principality Stadium against Scotland.
Dafydd Jenkins made his Exeter debut Chiefs during the 2021-22 season in the Premiership Rugby Cup against Bristol Bears
Sam Warburton has also now been demoted to third in the list of youngest captains and Jenkins says he does not think he should be associated with such names.
"They're legends of the game but the thing that made them so special was they brought wins as well," said Jenkins.
"I don't think I can compare myself to them without wins. I'm trying to back up this honour with some wins in the Six Nations and that would be a real privilege.
"The boys gave me a message straightaway like Jac [Morgan], Dewi [Lake] and Ken [Owens]. Sam Warburton told me to give him a call whenever I have a problem which I thank him for.
"These are legends of the game. I'm trying to be a sponge and learn everything I can and hopefully it will put me in the best position."
Jenkins has won many admirers through his captaincy of Exeter, with the Premiership club in title contention and progressing to the Investec Champions Cup knockout phase.
Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter gave the lock his first club captaincy experience aged 19 and Jenkins is thankful for his influence.
"He's been class," said Jenkins.
"I had four international locks I was trying to compete with and for him to give me the captaincy when I was young went a long way.
"Hopefully I can repay him in the future through winning trophies at Exeter. It's all the other coaches down there too."
Gatland paid Jenkins a major compliment by saying he expects to see him "in the mould of Alun Wyn Jones".
So what is the captaincy style of somebody so young?
Dafydd Jenkins addresses the Wales 2024 Six Nations squad in training
"I'm not a great talker in terms of the group," said Jenkins.
"It's easier said than done but I like trying to lead by example on the field and around the training pitch.
"I just try to do my bit on the pitch and hopefully people follow.
"The truth is you don't know when you have respect, you try and lead with actions.
"There is no point telling other people what to do when you're not doing it yourself.
"It's similar to Jac and Dewi at the World Cup. They led perfectly by example on the pitch with the way they were playing.
"They were probably the best two players on the park most games. If I can do that I'll be over the moon."
Jenkins says he will also learn from World Cup starting locks Adam Beard and Will Rowlands who he will be battling with for starting spots.
"They're both class leaders as well," said Jenkins.
"I am still just trying to learn off them as much as I can as well as the other leaders in the team and it's a team effort."